The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries will consider the admission of Argentina and the World Peace Council (WPC) as observers at its 15th summit, said a press release distributed by the summit secretariat Sunday.

The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement agreed at a meeting on June 26 to submit to the summit the application of Argentina to be granted the observer status, said the press release.

The bureau has also circulated the request by the World Peace Council to be offered the NAM observer status since July 6, said the release.

The bureau recommended that the upcoming summit slated for Wednesday and Thursday in the Red Sea resort city endorse the applications of Argentina and the World Peace Council.

The NAM groups 118 member states including 53 from Africa, 38 from Asia, 26 from Latin America and the Caribbean and one from Europe (Belarus).

It represents nearly two-thirds of the United Nations members, particularly developing countries, and comprises 55 percent of the world population. The movement now has 16 observer countries and nine observer organizations.

Argentina is the second largest country in South America and eighth in the world by land area. It is currently classified as an Upper-Middle Income Country or as a secondary emerging market by the World Bank. Argentina is also one of the G-20 major economies.

The World Peace Council was formed in 1949, replacing the permanent committee of the World Peace Congress, in order to promote peaceful coexistence and nuclear disarmament.

The WPC was especially active in those areas bordering U.S. military installations, in Western Europe, believed to house nuclear weapons. It waged large campaigns against U.S.-led military operations, especially against the Vietnam war.

The WPC had its headquarters in Helsinki, Finland until the 1990s when the Council moved to Greece. In the past the WPC awarded the International Peace Prize.

In May 2004, the council held its world congress in Athens attended by representatives of 100 peace groups from around the world. The 2008 world congress of the council was held in the Venezuelan capital Caracas on April 8-13, with more than 120 peace groups from 76 countries in attendance.

(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2009)