11:49 AM |
Fiji - September 1st to tell the Commonwealth and United Nations elections will occur by October 2010.
Read paragraphs 10 and 11.
Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group - Concluding Statement
31 July 2009
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which addresses
serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth's fundamental
political values met in London on 31 July 2009.
31 July 2009
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which addresses
serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth's fundamental
political values met in London on 31 July 2009.
1. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration
(CMAG) held an extraordinary meeting in London on 31 July 2009. The
Meeting was chaired by Hon Datuk Anifah Aman, Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Malaysia. It was also attended by H.E. Alhaji Muhammad
Mumuni, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ghana; Hon Marco Hausiku,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Namibia; Hon Murray McCully, Minister
of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand; Hon Samuel T. Abal, Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration of Papua New Guinea; Hon
Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka; Hon
Rufus George Bousquet, Minister of External Affairs of St Lucia; Hon
Sam Kutesa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda; and Mr Ivan Lewis,
Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, United
Kingdom.
2. CMAG received a written communication from the Chair of the Pacific
Islands Forum, Hon Toke Talagi, Premier of Niue.
3. The Group also received with appreciation a briefing from the High
Commissioner of Fiji to the United Kingdom, H E Mr Pio Bosco
Tikoisuva.
4. CMAG further received and took note of a Joint Statement dated 24
July 2009 made by two former Prime Ministers of Fiji, Mr Laisenia
Qarase and Mr Mahendra Chaudhry, as well as a letter from Mr Mick
Beddoes, Leader of the Opposition in the last parliament of Fiji.
5. CMAG recalled that, at its previous meeting on 4 March 2009, it had
deplored the fact that Fiji remained in contravention of Commonwealth
values and principles; that CMAG's call for the Interim Government to
adhere to its March 2009 deadline for holding elections had not been
heeded; and that the Interim Government had not indicated an
alternative date for elections. It further recalled that, at that
meeting, CMAG had reaffirmed that the engagement of the Commonwealth
in Fiji should continue to be directed at protecting and promoting the
fundamental values and principles of the Commonwealth, in the
interests of the people of Fiji.
6. The Group further recalled its decision in March that, should
sufficient progress not be made by Fiji towards a return to democracy,
Fiji would be fully suspended from the Commonwealth at the Group's
next regularly scheduled meeting in September 2009.
7. The Group noted that Fiji's situation with regard to fundamental
Commonwealth values had deteriorated strikingly since March. It
deplored the President's purported abrogation of the Constitution on
10 April 2009, the further entrenchment of authoritarian rule in Fiji
outside the Constitution and the rule of law, the ongoing violation of
human rights including freedom of speech and assembly, arbitrary
detention of opponents of the military regime, and the undermining of
the independence of the judiciary and legal system. CMAG also deplored
the intention of the Fiji regime to further delay the return to
democracy by more than five years.
8. In relation to Commonwealth engagement with Fiji, CMAG expressed
its deep regret at the Fiji regime's withdrawal of cooperation with
the Commonwealth and UN on the proposed President's Political Dialogue
Forum (PPDF) and the effective abandonment of that process.
9. CMAG noted the decision by leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum to
suspend Fiji from participation in the Forum as of 2 May 2009.
10. CMAG urged the Fiji regime to immediately reactivate the
President's Political Dialogue Forum process, facilitated by the
Commonwealth and the United Nations. CMAG stressed that such a
Dialogue must be independent, inclusive, time-bound and without any
pre-determined outcome, and lead to credible elections in the country
no later than October 2010.
11. CMAG urged the Fiji regime to state its firm commitment to
reactivating the PPDF as indicated in the terms outlined in paragraph
10 above, by no later than 1 September 2009, in writing to the
Commonwealth Secretary-General. In the absence of such confirmation,
Fiji will be fully suspended on that date. CMAG authorised the Chair
and the Secretary-General to consult on engagement with the Fiji
regime should a positive response be received, and to furnish a report
to CMAG's next meeting in New York on 26 September 2009.
12. Consistent with the provisions of the Millbrook Action Programme
and CMAG's own earlier statements, the Group reaffirmed the importance
of continued engagement by the Commonwealth with Fiji, in pursuit of
its entrusted responsibility to support the restoration of
constitutional democracy in that country and protecting and promoting
human rights and the welfare of the people of Fiji.
London
31 July 2009
Download a PDF of the
statement<http://www.thecommonwealth.org/files/211788/FileName/CMAGMeeting2.doc>
Note to Editors:
CMAG is convened by the Commonwealth Secretary-General and comprises
the Foreign Ministers of nine Commonwealth member countries -
currently Ghana, Malaysia (Chair), Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New
Guinea, St Lucia, Sri Lanka, Uganda (Deputy Chair) and the United
Kingdom.
For media enquiries please contact Spokesperson, Eduardo del Buey, at:
Tel: +44-7740-450-901 or Email:
e.delbuey@commonwealth.int<mailto:e.delbuey@commonwealth.int>.
(CMAG) held an extraordinary meeting in London on 31 July 2009. The
Meeting was chaired by Hon Datuk Anifah Aman, Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Malaysia. It was also attended by H.E. Alhaji Muhammad
Mumuni, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ghana; Hon Marco Hausiku,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Namibia; Hon Murray McCully, Minister
of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand; Hon Samuel T. Abal, Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration of Papua New Guinea; Hon
Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka; Hon
Rufus George Bousquet, Minister of External Affairs of St Lucia; Hon
Sam Kutesa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda; and Mr Ivan Lewis,
Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, United
Kingdom.
2. CMAG received a written communication from the Chair of the Pacific
Islands Forum, Hon Toke Talagi, Premier of Niue.
3. The Group also received with appreciation a briefing from the High
Commissioner of Fiji to the United Kingdom, H E Mr Pio Bosco
Tikoisuva.
4. CMAG further received and took note of a Joint Statement dated 24
July 2009 made by two former Prime Ministers of Fiji, Mr Laisenia
Qarase and Mr Mahendra Chaudhry, as well as a letter from Mr Mick
Beddoes, Leader of the Opposition in the last parliament of Fiji.
5. CMAG recalled that, at its previous meeting on 4 March 2009, it had
deplored the fact that Fiji remained in contravention of Commonwealth
values and principles; that CMAG's call for the Interim Government to
adhere to its March 2009 deadline for holding elections had not been
heeded; and that the Interim Government had not indicated an
alternative date for elections. It further recalled that, at that
meeting, CMAG had reaffirmed that the engagement of the Commonwealth
in Fiji should continue to be directed at protecting and promoting the
fundamental values and principles of the Commonwealth, in the
interests of the people of Fiji.
6. The Group further recalled its decision in March that, should
sufficient progress not be made by Fiji towards a return to democracy,
Fiji would be fully suspended from the Commonwealth at the Group's
next regularly scheduled meeting in September 2009.
7. The Group noted that Fiji's situation with regard to fundamental
Commonwealth values had deteriorated strikingly since March. It
deplored the President's purported abrogation of the Constitution on
10 April 2009, the further entrenchment of authoritarian rule in Fiji
outside the Constitution and the rule of law, the ongoing violation of
human rights including freedom of speech and assembly, arbitrary
detention of opponents of the military regime, and the undermining of
the independence of the judiciary and legal system. CMAG also deplored
the intention of the Fiji regime to further delay the return to
democracy by more than five years.
8. In relation to Commonwealth engagement with Fiji, CMAG expressed
its deep regret at the Fiji regime's withdrawal of cooperation with
the Commonwealth and UN on the proposed President's Political Dialogue
Forum (PPDF) and the effective abandonment of that process.
9. CMAG noted the decision by leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum to
suspend Fiji from participation in the Forum as of 2 May 2009.
10. CMAG urged the Fiji regime to immediately reactivate the
President's Political Dialogue Forum process, facilitated by the
Commonwealth and the United Nations. CMAG stressed that such a
Dialogue must be independent, inclusive, time-bound and without any
pre-determined outcome, and lead to credible elections in the country
no later than October 2010.
11. CMAG urged the Fiji regime to state its firm commitment to
reactivating the PPDF as indicated in the terms outlined in paragraph
10 above, by no later than 1 September 2009, in writing to the
Commonwealth Secretary-General. In the absence of such confirmation,
Fiji will be fully suspended on that date. CMAG authorised the Chair
and the Secretary-General to consult on engagement with the Fiji
regime should a positive response be received, and to furnish a report
to CMAG's next meeting in New York on 26 September 2009.
12. Consistent with the provisions of the Millbrook Action Programme
and CMAG's own earlier statements, the Group reaffirmed the importance
of continued engagement by the Commonwealth with Fiji, in pursuit of
its entrusted responsibility to support the restoration of
constitutional democracy in that country and protecting and promoting
human rights and the welfare of the people of Fiji.
London
31 July 2009
Download a PDF of the
statement<http://www.thecommonwealth.org/files/211788/FileName/CMAGMeeting2.doc>
Note to Editors:
CMAG is convened by the Commonwealth Secretary-General and comprises
the Foreign Ministers of nine Commonwealth member countries -
currently Ghana, Malaysia (Chair), Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New
Guinea, St Lucia, Sri Lanka, Uganda (Deputy Chair) and the United
Kingdom.
For media enquiries please contact Spokesperson, Eduardo del Buey, at:
Tel: +44-7740-450-901 or Email:
e.delbuey@commonwealth.int<mailto:e.delbuey@commonwealth.int>.
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