Advocacy within the Commonwealth

Nineteenth Meeting of The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
On The Harare Declaration (CMAG), Kasane, Botswana
16 - 17 May 2002

Concluding Statement

Contents

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) met in Kasane, Botswana, on 16-17 May 2002. This was the Group's first meeting following its reconstitution by Commonwealth Heads of Government at Coolum in March 2002, and the nineteenth meeting since CMAG's creation at the Auckland Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November 1995. It was attended by the Hon Chris Gallus, MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, the Hon M Morshed Khan, MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, the Hon Lt General Mompati S. Merafhe, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana, the Hon Digvijay Singh, Minister of State for Railways of India, the Hon Joseph Borg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta, Mr Olusegun Akinsanya, Director, International Organisations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria, and Ms Marilyn T. Zonicle, Deputy High Commissioner of The Bahamas in London. CMAG adopted its Agenda and unanimously re-elected as Chairman the Hon Lt-General Mompati S. Merafhe, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana, and elected the Hon Alexander Downer, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, as Vice Chairman. The Group expressed its appreciation to the Hon Lt-General Mompati S. Merafhe and to the Government and people of Botswana for their kind hospitality and the excellent arrangements made for the meeting

CMAG Mandate

CMAG welcomed the expanded mandate of the Group adopted by Heads of Government at their meeting in Coolum in March 2002, and agreed that the new measures would be factored into the Group's operations.

Fiji Islands

The Group reviewed the situation in Fiji Islands, in particular the current status of the Court of Appeal case on the constitutionality of Fiji's Government. It agreed to keep Fiji on its Agenda and continue to monitor the situation in Fiji Islands until after the ongoing judicial processes are resolved. The Group welcomed the role of the Secretary-General's Special Envoy and requested the Secretary General to remain engaged.

Pakistan

The Group received a report from the Secretary-General on recent developments in Pakistan. It agreed that CMAG should continue to monitor developments pertaining to the restoration of democracy in Pakistan, taking note that the 30 April 2002 referendum on the extension of General Pervez Musharraf's term as President constituted a deviation from the roadmap to democracy which he had announced last August. CMAG expressed concern that certain conditions relating to the conduct of the referendum were not in keeping with Commonwealth best electoral practice. The Group expressed the view that in order to achieve transparent, free and fair elections for the National and Provincial Assemblies in October, Pakistan should embrace such Commonwealth best practice, foster an inclusive political climate, and create a level playing field for all concerned.

The Group agreed that Pakistan should remain suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth pending the restoration of a democratic government.

CMAG welcomed the Secretary-General's ongoing close engagement in monitoring events relating to the restoration of democracy, and requested the Secretary-General to remain appropriately engaged. The Group also welcomed the prospect of a Commonwealth Observer Group being constituted for the Provincial and National Assemblies elections, and looked forward to seeing the Report of that Group.

Solomon Islands

The Group reviewed the situation in Solomon Islands, and decided to keep Solomon Islands on its agenda. It expressed its appreciation to Australia and New Zealand for their efforts to assist Solomon Islands. The Group requested the Secretary-General to continue monitoring the situation in Solomon Islands, and to remain engaged in providing technical assistance to strengthen democratic processes and institutions, and to promote economic development in the country.

Zimbabwe

The Group received a report from the Secretary-General on recent developments in Zimbabwe. It also took note of the Coolum CHOGM's Statement on Zimbabwe and the action taken by the CHOGM Chairpersons' Committee on Zimbabwe on 19 March 2002 to suspend Zimbabwe from the Councils of the Commonwealth for one year. CMAG welcomed the ongoing efforts of President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, amongst other initiatives, to achieve reconciliation and economic recovery in Zimbabwe. CMAG decided it would keep Zimbabwe on its agenda but would take no further action given the decision of the CHOGM Chairpersons' Committee to remain seized of the issue.

Sierra Leone

At CMAG's request, the Secretary-General briefed the Group on the Presidential and Parliamentary elections held in Sierra Leone on 14 May 2002. The Group welcomed the peaceful conduct of these elections.

Human Rights Investigative Body for the Commonwealth

In regard to a proposal before CMAG to create a Commonwealth Commission on Human Rights, the Group decided that in the light of the recent creation within the Commonwealth Secretariat of a dedicated Human Rights Unit and the existence of other international Human Rights Organisations, the proposal should not proceed.

Next Meeting

The Group decided that they would meet at Marlborough House in London in October 2002.

Commonwealth Secretariat
Botswana
17 May 2002