Twenty-Second Meeting of The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on The Harare Declaration (CMAG)

CONCLUDING STATEMENT

1. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) met in New York, on 26-27 September 2003. This was the Group's fourth meeting following its reconstitution by Commonwealth Heads of Government at Coolum in March 2002 and the twenty-second meeting since CMAG's establishment in November 1995. The meeting was chaired by the Hon Lt-General Mompati S Merafhe, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of Botswana, and was attended by the Hon Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Samoa; Hon Alexander Downer, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia (Vice-Chairman); the Hon Frederick A. Mitchell, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas; the Hon M. Morshed Khan MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh; the Hon Yashwant Sinha, Minister of External Affairs of India; the Hon Joe Borg, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta; and the Hon Olu Adeniji, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria.

2. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Solomon Islands, Hon Laurie Chan, also made a presentation to CMAG on Solomon Islands.

3. CMAG reviewed developments in the countries on its Agenda, namely Fiji Islands, Pakistan, Solomon Islands and Zimbabwe.

Fiji Islands

4. CMAG welcomed the commitment of the Government of Fiji islands to abide by the decision of the Fiji Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the formation of the Government. The Group noted that Prime Minister Qarase has made an offer of Cabinet positions to the Fiji Labour Party and that discussions relating to this issue are ongoing both within and outside the court. The Group expressed the hope that agreement between the parties would be reached shortly in accordance with the decisions of the court.

5. CMAG requested the Secretary-General to continue to remain engaged and offer appropriate technical assistance to Fiji Islands as may be required, including through the work of his Special Envoy.

Pakistan

6. CMAG received a report from the Secretary-General on recent developments in Pakistan. The Group recalled the positive steps taken by the Government which it had noted in its previous Statement, and expressed the hope for their continuation.

7. CMAG noted that Parliament had remained deadlocked over the Legal Framework Orders (LFOs) which were an obstacle to Pakistan's full return to democracy. CMAG hoped that the on-going negotiations between the Government and the Opposition would continue and lead to an agreement on outstanding issues in the spirit of Commonwealth parliamentary practice and process.

8. CMAG agreed that if the negotiations between the Government and the political parties on the outstanding issues in the LFOs were concluded successfully, and a comprehensive package were passed in Parliament in accordance with the Constitution, CMAG could therefore recommend to Heads of Government that Pakistan's suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth should be lifted.

9. CMAG requested the Secretary-General to remain engaged and continue to monitor the situation in Pakistan. The Group also requested the Secretary-General to offer and make available to the appropriate authorities such technical assistance as might be requested.

Solomon Islands

10. CMAG welcomed the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) led by Australia with the active support and participation of Pacific Island Forum member countries. The Group offered its support to RAMSI for its notable achievements to date in restoring law and order in Solomon Islands. CMAG also recognised that much remained to be done in rebuilding Solomon Islands.

11. The Group agreed that Solomon Islands was not in serious or persistent violation of the Harare Commonwealth principles and should not remain on its Agenda. However, CMAG would continue to consider reports on developments in Solomon Islands by the Secretary-General under Other Matters of Interest to Ministers.

12. CMAG requested the Secretary-General to monitor the situation in Solomon Islands and provide technical assistance as required by the Government of Solomon Islands.

Zimbabwe

13. CMAG received an update from the Secretary-General on recent developments in Zimbabwe. The Group noted the issue of Zimbabwe would be considered by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting in Abuja in December 2003. CMAG maintained the decision taken at its last meeting to keep Zimbabwe on its agenda.

CMAG Report to CHOGM 2003

14. CMAG agreed on its Draft Report to Heads of Government as currently prepared up till September 2003. The Group requested the Secretary-General to further update the Report in consultation with CMAG members by incorporating the decisions of its Twenty-Second Meeting and any further updates on developments in the countries on CMAG's agenda. It agreed also to consider whether the Report needed further updating at its eve-of-CHOGM Meeting in Abuja.

Next Meeting

15. CMAG decided that it would meet again on 4 December 2003, on the eve of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, to consider the latest developments and finalise its submission to CHOGM.