Member nations of the Non-Aligned Movement have called on the UN to grant more authority to developing countries.

In the closing statement of the 17th summit of NAM issued on Sunday, member states also called for more significance on the self-determination of emerging powers and urged the United Nations to include more states in the Security Council.

Held on Margarita Island, Venezuela, the NAM meeting brought together heads of state and delegates from member countries to discuss key regional and international issues. Iran handed over the rotating presidency of the bloc to Venezuela during the summit.
In his closing address, Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro said that the UN should not only be reformed, it should be re-founded in a manner that all nations have a more balanced share.


[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"] Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (R), sitting next to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (C), during the opening ceremony of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela, on September 17, 2016. (Photo by AFP)[/caption]


He also said that OPEC and non-OPEC countries were "close" to reaching a deal aimed at stabilizing global oil markets.

Earlier, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and NAM must fulfill their responsibility to promote regional peace and stability.


[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"] Front row from left to right: Salvador's President Salvador Sanchez Ceren, Ecuador's President Rafael Correa, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Bolivia's President Evo Morales and North Korea's nominal head of state Kim Yong-nam pose for the official group photo at the 17th Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Porlamar, on Venezuela's Margarita Island, September 17, 2016. (Photo by AP)[/caption]


He also called for close cooperation among oil producers to help an upcoming OPEC meeting in Algeria achieve its expressed aim of stabilizing the market.

NAM, an international organization with 120 member states and 21 observer countries, represents nearly two-thirds of the UN members. It is regarded as not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.

By Press TV