• Commonwealth:
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• Notable Meetings 1991 - 2005

Notable Meetings 1991 - 2005

October 1991, Harare Heads of Government issued the Harare Commonwealth Declaration, which reaffirmed the fundamental values set forth in the 1971 Declaration of Commonwealth Principles, and committed all member countries to work with renewed vigour, especially in the following areas: protecting and promoting democracy, just and honest government, the rule of l aw and fundamental human rights; equality for women; universal access to education; sustainable development, poverty alleviation and environmental protection; combating drug trafficking and abuse and communicable diseases; helping small states; and supporting the UN and other international institutions in the search for peace. The Harare Declaration also pledged continuing action towards ending apartheid and establishing a free, democratic, non-racial and prosperous South Africa. Annexed to the Harare Communiqué, the Ottawa Declaration on Women and Structural Adjustment included a seven-point action programme.

October 1993, Cyprus The Limassol Statement on the Uruguay Round affirmed the need for a successful outcome to the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations. Commonwealth leaders dispatched a ministerial mission to Tokyo, Washington DC, London, Bonn, Paris, Geneva and Brussels to urge key countries and international organisations to negotiate positively and flexibly to reach agreement.

November 1995, Auckland South Africa was welcomed back as a member. Mozambique became the association's 53rd member. Heads of Government agreed the Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme on the Harare Declaration, designed to fulfil more effectively the democracy and development commitments contained in the Harare Commonwealth Declaration. They established the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration to deal with serious or persistent violations of the Harare principles. Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth for a serious violation of those principles.

October 1997, Edinburgh Commonwealth leaders agreed on a set of economic principles and practical activities to promote trade, investment and sustainable development. Among these was the establishment of a trade and investment access facility. Leaders endorsed a report on criteria for Commonwealth membership. Fiji Islands was welcomed back as a member.

November 1999, Durban Nigeria was welcomed back to full membership, following democratic elections earlier in the year. The Fancourt Commonwealth Declaration on Globalisation and People-Centred Development was issued. A High-Level Review Group of 10 Heads was set up to review the role of the Commonwealth and how it could respond to the challenges of the new century. Don McKinnon, Foreign Minister of New Zealand, was elected to serve as Secretary-General for a four-year term beginning 1 April 2000. The meeting welcomed the interim report of the Commonwealth/World Bank Joint Task Force on Small States, 'Small States: Meeting Challenges in the Global Economy', as a landmark document confirming the special problems and development challenges facing small states.

March 2002, Coolum Commonwealth leaders issued the Coolum Declaration, entitled 'The Commonwealth in the 21st Century: Continuity and Renewal'. They adopted the Report of the High Level Review Group established in Durban, which set out concrete steps to build a Commonwealth for the 21st century. They issued a CHOGM Statement on Zimbabwe which mandated three Heads of Government to determine appropriate Commonwealth action on Zimbabwe. They welcomed the Report of the Commonwealth Committee on Terrorism and the Plan of Action based on their own Statement on Terrorism of 25 October 2001. They called for the constitution of a high-level expert group to recommend ways of carrying forward the Fancourt Declaration, focusing more specifically on how democracies can best be supported in combating poverty.

December 2003, Abuja In the Aso Rock Commonwealth Declaration, 'Development and Democracy: Partnership for Peace and Prosperity', Heads of Government committed themselves to making democracy work better for pro-poor development, and to an effective, equitable, rules-based multilateral trading system, developed under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation, to support pro-poor development and democracy. Annexed to the Declaration was the Aso Rock Statement on Multilateral Trade, which noted that "a multilateral trading system that is more responsive to the needs of developing countries is particularly important for the Commonwealth." Heads of Government also issued the CHOGM Statement on Zimbabwe, affirming the Commonwealth's commitment to encourage and assist in the process of national reconciliation. Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth.

November 2005, Malta Commonwealth leaders issued the Malta Declaration on Networking the Commonwealth for Development which aims to bridge the digital divide through a global partnership for development. The goal is to use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to create new economic synergies and to overcome constraints caused by remoteness, small size and other factors that have hampered progress. Two other documents that were issued by the Commonwealth leaders included the Valletta Statement on Multilateral Trade which reaffirmed their commitment to the objectives of the Doha Development Agenda of the World Trade Organisation to put in place a rules-based and equitable international trading system; and the Gozo Statement on Vulnerable Small States which urged the international community to take stronger and more effective action to help vulnerable small states address the problems associated with reform and diversification.