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• “The Commonwealth – dead or alive?”

“The Commonwealth – dead or alive?”

Date: 9 Nov 2004
Speaker: Secretary-General Don McKinnon
Location: City University, London

I am very pleased to be here today.

It's always a bit daunting to speak to a room full of journalists. As a politician in New Zealand, I have developed a very healthy respect of media people.

But I've also been looking forward to this evening, since I know that your presence is almost a guarantee that of a very lively and stimulating discussion.

Thank you to David Rhind, your Vice-Chancellor and Steve Miller, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for hosting this event.

Thank you also to Linda Christmas and Richard Bourne for inviting me to come and speak to you.

The title of my address to you today is clearly intended to be provocative.

When I ask the question: "Is the Commonwealth dead?", you obviously expect me to say "no" and to tell you why not.

Well, in a way, you're right. That is what I intend to do.

But at the same time, asking whether the Commonwealth is dead is not simply a rhetorical question.

In fact, the "British Commonwealth" - as the Commonwealth is still often referred to by many people in the media and beyond - has long ceased to exist.

As I said in a speech to the Royal Society of Arts in Glasgow recently, the British Commonwealth was left behind with the last century, even if the term still lingers on. Today, we are no more the British Commonwealth than the United States is the British USA.

In other words: "The British Commonwealth is dead - long live the modern Commonwealth!"

It is true that the Commonwealth as we know it emerged largely out of the decolonisation process. But the Commonwealth has long grown out of its colonial legacy. Imperial history is as relevant to the modern Commonwealth as the Hundred Years' War is to the European Union.
It may be true that the countries that form the Commonwealth today would not have come together had it not been for historical linkages. But they would certainly not have stayed together if they did not share something deeper and altogether more important than those historical ties.
Apart from their shared conventions, institutions and working language, Commonwealth countries are bound together by their joint commitment to democracy, human rights and sustainable development. They share a sense of common purpose and the determination to work together to achieve growth and generate real opportunities for all Commonwealth citizens.
In fact, many people who think they know the Commonwealth are surprised to discover that it is quite different from what they expected. They have the same reaction as someone entering a grand old building whose façade is a reminder of past centuries, but which has been completely renovated inside, with glass lifts, a sunny atrium, and designer furniture.
In fact, asking the question "What is the Commonwealth for?" is no different from asking "What are international organisations for?"

When you consider this question, it is useful to look at it through the lens of member countries themselves: "what are countries looking for when they decide to join an organisation like the Commonwealth?"

First, they want an organisation that fits into the network of partners that make up their external relationships.

Second, they are looking for a springboard that will allow them to raise issues of concern to them in a global forum and will add to their political weight.

Third, they want to be part of a network of partners they can cooperate with to further their interests in the areas of trade, investment and foreign policy.

They are also looking for an organisation that has strong values and principles, an organisation that commands respect internationally.

And finally, they want a body that will deliver on its objectives and use its financial resources efficiently.

Each country will look at an organisation like the Commonwealth from their own perspective; like supporters around a cricket pitch, they all watch the same game, but they all get a different piece of the action.

I believe the Commonwealth has a great deal to offer on all fronts. Let me show you how.

1. The Commonwealth is a unique forum for global dialogue and conflict prevention

When 53 member states spanning every continent, countries of all sizes, at all stages of development, representing a multiplicity of religious and cultural groups, speak with one voice, they can really make a difference.

Preventing conflicts is one area where we can play a significant role.

Of course, the Commonwealth has no army, no battalions.

But in some cases, this can be an advantage. Not all conflicts are best solved militarily - indeed, most cannot be resolved that way.

What we try to do is to get involved before tensions reach their point of no return, before they degenerate into fully fledged conflicts.

The Commonwealth is strategically placed to play an increasing role in helping prevent and solve conflicts. Here's why:

First, most conflicts today are within states rather than between states.

The Commonwealth only intervenes at the request or with the consent of a member country. Our approach is based on building trust between the parties involved, acting with discretion and sensitivity.

Second, many conflicts today grow out of ethnic or religious tensions.

The Commonwealth, with its experience in managing diversity and generating consensus, is well suited to help find a common ground of understanding between warring parties.

Third, many countries facing internal conflicts are often reluctant to accept outside assistance as they perceive it as a threat to their national sovereignty.

The Commonwealth has no battalions and therefore does not intervene militarily. It uses the force of argument rather than the argument of force to help opposing parties pull back from the brink and bring them to the negotiating table.

As Winston Churchill famously said: "to jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war". That belief is also at the centre of the Commonwealth purpose.

Let me give you a few examples of our good offices work:

a. Cameroon

Cameroon joined the Commonwealth in 1995. For some time now, there has been international concern about a number of issues in the country.

The Commonwealth  has offered its support to the country and my Special Envoy, the Hon. Christine Stewart (a former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Canada), is assisting the Government of Cameroon in the implementation of wide-ranging reforms in the areas of election management, human rights, the judiciary and decentralisation.

There have been encouraging developments and in December 2002, a Cameroon/Commonwealth Presidential Commission was established in order to develop a framework and timetable for the implementation of the agreed reforms.

Last month, we sent Commonwealth Observers for the Presidential Election. Their report will form the basis of our continuing engagement to strengthen democracy in Cameroon.

b. Fiji Islands

In Fiji, our good offices engagements were facilitated by my Special Envoy, Justice Pius Langa - Vice-President of the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

This engagement focused on facilitating dialogue between the political parties, encouraging the formation of a government in accordance with the Constitution and promoting national reconciliation.

Last May, CMAG decided to remove Fiji from its agenda, following progress in regard to strengthening democracy and respect for the rule of law.

c. Guyana

In Guyana, Sir Paul Reeves (a former Governor-General of New Zealand) has been engaged as my Special Envoy since August 2002.

The objective of his engagement is to promote dialogue between the main political parties with a view to developing more inclusiveness in the political life of the country. 

This dialogue has started and has already resulted in an agreement on a process of reform in the areas of election management, the constitution, capacity building for parliament and good governance.

These are just some examples of the work we do to help prevent conflicts. Not much is known about many of these interventions because, by their very nature, they have to be discreet.

2. The Commonwealth can generate consensus on some of the most difficult global issues and ensure no one is left out in the cold.

One example is terrorism.

Shortly after 9/11, all Commonwealth leaders, representing a multiplicity of religious and cultural groups, issued a Statement on Terrorism.

This Statement is an example of how Commonwealth member states can reach agreement through consensus even on the most difficult issues.

It is the only case of any international organisation taking the position that "any member country that aids, supports, instigates, finances or harbours terrorists, or permits such activities within its jurisdiction, violates the fundamental values of our association and should have no place in it."

Since then, the Commonwealth has been developing model legislation and implementation kits to assist member countries with the adoption of appropriate counter-terrorism measures.

This shows that the Commonwealth, which embraces a broad diversity of countries - rich and poor, large and small, island and land-locked - can offer a real alternative to unilateral forms of decision-making.

The Commonwealth also provides an international platform for small and vulnerable states. It ensures their voices are not drowned by the noise of big players asserting their own interests.

Small states have an important role to play in the Commonwealth. They are a key part of the Commonwealth's identity, representing 32 out of 53 members.

We recognise that small states are often sidelined when it comes to making decisions at a global level. They find it difficult to defend their interests in the face of the overwhelming influence of bigger players.

The work of the Commonwealth is aimed at giving small states the tools to stand their ground and help level the playing field. In other words, we try to help redress the balance in favour of small states.

When a small state government enters into negotiations with a large multinational about the exploitation of its natural resources, chances are it will lose out. The Commonwealth's role is to provide experts who will strengthen the hand of the government and ensure the country does not get a raw deal.

In the petroleum sector, for instance, we helped the Government of Namibia negotiate agreements with international oil companies for offshore exploration projects worth over US$100 million. This means the government now has more resources to dedicate to health and education, improving the lives of Namibian citizens.

When there is a dispute over maritime boundaries between a country the size of Dominica and a country the size of France, it's clear that the odds are stacked against the small Caribbean State. This is a case where the Commonwealth has provided the knowledge and expertise to prevent Dominica from becoming sea-locked.

We also help developing countries cope with the growing problem of international recruitment of teachers and nurses.

Every year, developing countries spend millions of dollars training teachers, doctors and nurses, only to lose them to wealthier countries, which can afford to pay them more.

This can often have a disastrous effect on a poor country's capacity to educate its people and provide decent health care.

In order to address this problem, the Commonwealth has developed codes of conduct to ensure that international recruitment is carried out in an ethical way, which takes into account the needs of developing countries.

The Commonwealth has also been at the forefront of the initiative to assist Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs). It was Commonwealth Finance Ministers who provided the leadership which eventually led to the initiative to reduce the debt of HIPCs. The Commonwealth continues to maintain pressure on the IMF and the World Bank to provide even greater debt reduction to these countries.

3. The Commonwealth does not pay lip service to the values of democracy and good governance. As we have shown time and time again, we live up to our principles and take action when they have been violated.

In fact, the Commonwealth is the only international organisation that suspends its members when they break the rules.

One of the key features of the Commonwealth is that it is an organisation based on shared values and principles.

These are outlined in the 1991 Harare Declaration. They include the protection and promotion of democracy, the rule of law, good governance, equality for women, sustainable development and universal access to education.

But our leaders felt that it was not enough simply to declare their commitment to a set of fundamental political principles. They thought it was important to show that the Commonwealth actually lived up to these principles.

So in 1995, they decided to set up the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG). This "democracy watchdog", which consists of nine Foreign Ministers, is empowered with measures to deal with serious or persistent violations of the Harare Principles.

There are plenty of examples to show that the Commonwealth does not merely pay lip service to its fundamental political values.

In 1995 Nigeria was suspended from membership but has since rightfully returned to the Commonwealth family and was the host of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in December last year.

Sierra Leone was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth in 1997; it too was subsequently reinstated.

Zimbabwe was suspended following flawed elections in March 2002, until it chose to withdraw from the Commonwealth in December last year.

Pakistan was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth following a military coup in 1999. The suspension was lifted last May, in light of progress in Pakistan's democratic reform. The country remains, however, on CMAG's agenda.

It is interesting to note that every country which has left, or been suspended, has sought to come back; we hope this will also be the case with Zimbabwe.

4. The Commonwealth can have a direct impact on the lives of millions of people.

Today, one out of three people in the Commonwealth lives on less than US$1 dollar a day.

Tackling poverty is one of the greatest challenges we face.

Providing aid, of course, is one way of addressing the issue. But the most effective weapon against poverty is actually trade.

But at the moment, there are many reasons why developing countries are unable to trade their way out of poverty.

The problem is not that they don't want to. The problem is that they can't.

They can't because governments in the rich world - the US, Europe and Japan - spend US$1 billion a day supporting their own farmers at the expense of poor farmers in developing countries.

The result is that farmers in the US can sell their cotton at a lower price than West African farmers even if it costs them more to produce it.

EU subsidies and market restrictions on sugar cost Mozambique US$38 million and Malawi US$32 million.

This is not only economically absurd. It's morally unacceptable. We must end this trade apartheid.

The Commonwealth has long been urging industrialised countries to eliminate trade subsidies.

We also help poor countries argue their case in trade talks.

Recently, the Commonwealth received 17 million euros from the European Commission to support poor member countries in trade negotiations and ensure they get a fair deal, not a raw deal.

Today, there are clear signs that things may be about to change. The EU and the US seem more committed than ever to dismantle agricultural subsidies.

The current trade talks hold out the promise of greater trade opportunities for poor countries.

Our responsibility is to help ensure they don't get derailed.

We also promote development through our Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC).

With around £20 million to spend every year, we don't have huge financial resources.

In fact, just to give you an order of comparison, United Kingdom citizens contribute annually:

• £51 to the EU
• £10 to the UN
• £2 to NATO
• and 18 pence to the Commonwealth

In spite of operating on a very limited budget, the CFTC remains a very flexible tool which enables it to respond to the needs of member countries quickly and efficiently - and provides good value for money.

Projects include, for example:

Youth enterprise: we helped 500 young people set up their business by providing training and brokering funds. Three-quarters of those who benefited are women.

Commonwealth Private Investment Initiative: we raised more than US$200 million for projects in our developing member countries in Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific and South Asia.

Public sector reform: 6,000 public officials benefited from training in managerial skills to improve delivery of public services.

Through our Debt Recording and Management System, we help our members manage debt flows and improve transparency. This system is currently used by 53 countries and has been translated by La Francophonie for use among its membership.

Training journalists: we helped train 750 media professionals from 40 Commonwealth countries.

5. The Commonwealth helps provide real opportunities to young people.

In fact, the Commonwealth is the only intergovernmental organisation to have a dedicated youth programme.

A lot of our work is targeted to young people. That's only natural, given that almost half the Commonwealth population is under the age of 35.

Through our Youth Credit Initiative, we provide micro-credit to young people to start or expand their own businesses. The Commonwealth Youth Programme has recently produced a toolkit designed to help policy-makers implement micro-credit programmes.

Through partnerships with the private sector, we have also established a Technology Empowerment Centre in India, which offers affordable courses in programming and e-commerce

One of the biggest problems facing young people in the Commonwealth is HIV/AIDS.

The devastation caused by the disease defies imagination. Since I started speaking, 60 young people got infected by the disease. Today, there are 13.2 million AIDS orphans.

There is no cure yet, but there is hope. And that hope begins with: Education, Education, Education. The more you know about HIV/AIDS, the more you are in a position to take action against it.

That is why we set up the "Young Ambassadors of Positive Living" programme, which enables young people living with HIV to share their experience and support prevention efforts.

Conclusion

I've outlined to you just a few examples of what the Commonwealth can achieve.

These are not necessarily big programmes backed by big money. But they are significant, and they make a difference.

As you engage in your course of studies and later, in your careers, I hope you will come to appreciate - and benefit from - the value of the Commonwealth.

And I hope you will write and speak about it for the benefit of the wider world.

Historically, the Commonwealth is the oldest international organisation around. But it's also the youngest in its make-up.

When Nelson Mandela was asked what he hoped for the young people of South Africa, his answer was: "I hope they will do better than I did."

That is also what we want for the young people of the Commonwealth. We want you to do better than ourselves.

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