Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
6 September 2000
Under the chairmanship of President Mbeki of South Africa, leaders of ten Commonwealth countries and the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Don McKinnon, met in New York today to review how best the Commonwealth could respond to the challenges of the new century. The other nine leaders attending the meeting were: the Prime Minister of Australia, the Rt Hon John Howard; the Minister of External Affairs of India, the Hon Jaswant Singh; the Prime Minister of Malta, the Rt Hon Dr Edward Fenech Adami; the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, the Hon Sir Mekere Morauta; the Prime Minister of Singapore, the Hon Chok Tong Goh; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International co-operation of Tanzania, the Rt Hon Jakaya Kikwette; the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, the Hon Basdeo Panday; the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, the Rt Hon Robin Cook; the President of Zimbabwe, the Hon Robert Mugabe.
Commonwealth leaders reviewed the global trends and the challenges facing the Commonwealth in the new century. They noted that the essence of the modern Commonwealth is that it is an association of democracies underpinned by good governance and respect for human rights and that it is playing a vital role in helping to resolve conflicts, and promote sustainable development and capacity building.
Commonwealth leaders reviewed the future political, developmental and economic challenges facing member states and the role of the Commonwealth in addressing these. Also discussed were the inter-relationships between civil society, business and the Commonwealth.
They received proposals from the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) on its future mandate. The CMAG was set up to deal with serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth's fundamental political values.
They set up a working group of experts to make recommendations to them on how best the Commonwealth could play a role in building up information technology capacities in Commonwealth countries.
Today's meeting of Commonwealth leaders launches a programme of work that will include consultations on the future of the Commonwealth with other Commonwealth governments, pan-Commonwealth bodies and other institutions. Following these consultations, Commonwealth officials will develop proposals for the consideration of their leaders when they next meet in October 2001 in Brisbane to finalise their report to Commonwealth Heads of Government.
For further information, please contact Basetsana Thokoane or Ronnie Mamoepa
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