EIGHTEENTH MEETING OF THE COMMONWEALTH MINISTERIAL ACTION GROUP ON THE HARARE DECLARATION (CMAG)

Marlborough House, 30 January 2002


CONCLUDING STATEMENT


The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) met in London on 30 January 2002. This was the Group's eighteenth meeting since its creation by Commonwealth Heads of Government in November 1995. The meeting was chaired by the Hon Lt-Gen Mompati Merafhe, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana, and was attended by the Hon Alexander Downer MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, the Hon M Morshed Khan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, the Hon Billie Miller, MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados (Vice-Chairperson), the Hon William Graham, PC, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, the Hon Tan Sri Dato' Musa bin Hitam, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Malaysia to CMAG, the Hon Sule Lamido, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, and the Rt Hon Jack Straw, MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom.

Report

CMAG unanimously adopted its biennial Report to CHOGM, and agreed that before making their Report public, it would be submitted to Commonwealth Heads of Government, who will be meeting in Coolum, Australia, in March this year.

CMAG also reviewed recent developments in respect of those countries currently on its Agenda, i.e., Fiji Islands, Pakistan, Solomon Islands and Zimbabwe.


Fiji Islands

The Group agreed to recommend to Heads of Government to take note of the progress made in the restoration of democracy in Fiji Islands and in particular the elections of 25 August to 5 September 2001 which were judged by a Commonwealth Observer Group to be a free expression of the will of the electors and as such could command the confidence of the people of Fiji.

CMAG also recommended to Heads of Government that they take note of the decision taken by the Group at its meeting on 20 December 2001, that Fiji Islands' suspension from the Councils of the Commonwealth be lifted with immediate effect from that date.

CMAG agreed to recommend that in recognition of the on-going legal proceedings over the constitutionality of the present Government of Fiji, CMAG keep Fiji Islands on its agenda and the Secretary-General continue to monitor the situation there utilising the services of his Special Envoy as might be required.

Pakistan

The Group agreed to recommend that Heads of Government express their concern over the continuation of non-democratic government in Pakistan, in violation of the Commonwealth's fundamental political values as expressed in the Harare Commonwealth Declaration.

The Group decided to recommend to Heads of Government that Pakistan's status in the Commonwealth should remain unchanged pending the restoration of a democratic government i.e. Pakistan will remain suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth.

The Group also recommend that Heads of Government welcome the commitment of the Government of Pakistan to hold democratic elections by October 2002 in keeping with its roadmap for the restoration of democracy; and agreed that the Commonwealth Secretary-General should have an active monitoring role in the period leading up to the restoration of democracy, including the deployment of Commonwealth Observers at the provincial and national elections and the provision of technical assistance towards this end.

Solomon Islands

The Group recommended that Heads of Government take note of the recent National Parliament elections of 5 December 2001, the outcome of which was judged by a Commonwealth Observer Group as successful in expressing the will of the people. Heads may also wish to acknowledge the role of regional Governments for their support in assisting with the conduct of the elections.

CMAG further agreed to recommend to Heads of Government that they express support for the Government of Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza and note that much remains to be done to consolidate peace and stability in Solomon Islands.

The Group recommended that CHOGM commend the role of the International Peace Monitoring Team (IPMT) led by Australia in overseeing the peace process.

In recognition of the difficulties facing the Government of Solomon Islands, it was recommended that Solomon Islands should continue to be on CMAG's agenda for the purpose of promoting good governance, peace and stability and economic development in the country.

Zimbabwe

The Group reviewed the situation in Zimbabwe in the light of developments since its last meeting on 20 December 2001. It expressed its deep concern over the continued violence, political intimidation and actions against the freedom and independence of the media.

The Group also condemned the recently enacted Public Order and Security Act and the General Laws Amendment Act, as well as the proposed Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill, as further direct curbs on the freedom of speech, of the press, and association in Zimbabwe and contrary to the Commonwealth's fundamental political values as enshrined in the Harare Commonwealth Declaration.
The Group expressed the strongest concern that the statement by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Chief and the recent and foreshadowed legislation constituted a direct threat to the conduct of free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.

CMAG noted that President Mugabe had publicly issued an invitation to the Commonwealth, amongst other international and regional organisations, to send observers to the forthcoming Presidential Election. It called for the immediate deployment of such observers by the Commonwealth Secretary-General and for the full co-operation of the Government of Zimbabwe in facilitating the operation of the Commonwealth and other international and domestic observers during the election period, which had already begun.

The Group expressed its full support for the process established by the Abuja Agreement, reached at the initiative of President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, including the President's ongoing mediation efforts and expressed its great appreciation to President Obasanjo.

The Group looked forward to the publication of the United Nations Development Programme report on equitable and sustainable land reform in Zimbabwe and expressed support for the involvement of the UNDP in this process, as agreed at Abuja.

The Group expressed support for the initiative by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), in encouraging a peaceful outcome to the situation in Zimbabwe in accordance with the rule of law and respect for human rights.





CMAG further called on the Government of Zimbabwe to ensure that:

· there is an immediate end to violence and intimidation and that the police and army refrain from party political statements and activities,

· All parties in the election be allowed to campaign freely without intimidation or fear of recrimination.

· The people of Zimbabwe are able to make an unfettered and informed choice in the elections, inter alia through full access to information from the media.

The Group decided that Zimbabwe would remain on its formal agenda and agreed to draw up its recommendations to CHOGM at its next meeting, taking into account the Government of Zimbabwe's response to these concerns, in the light of information received from the Secretary-General. The Group noted that the Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme provides for a range of measures from Commonwealth disapproval to suspension.

Next Meeting

The Group decided that they would meet again prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Coolum, to consider the latest developments and finalise their recommendations to Commonwealth Heads of Government.

Commonwealth Secretariat
Marlborough House
London SW1Y 5HX

30 January 2002