Ruslan Abdulgani, 91; Indonesian Official Organized 1955 Summit

Ruslan Abdulgani, 91, a former Indonesian foreign minister who organized the first summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, in 1955, died Tuesday in Jakarta from the effects of a stroke, media reports said.

After fighting in Indonesia’s war of independence with the Netherlands from 1945 to 1949, Abdulgani joined the foreign ministry and was asked by then-President Sukarno to organize a gathering of 29 newly independent nations from Asia and Africa.

The goals of the 1955 Bandung Conference were to promote economic and cultural cooperation among the nations, as well as to oppose colonialism by the major powers.

The meeting grew into the Non-Aligned Movement, which tried to steer a neutral course between the Eastern and Western blocs during the Cold War. It currently has more than 100 members, though its relevance has declined since the end of the Cold War.

Abdulgani was named foreign minister and served as a presidential foreign policy advisor.