Global public consultation on the Commonwealth begins
21 Jul 2009
“Too few people understand what the Commonwealth is for” – UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband
The ‘Commonwealth Conversation’, launched by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), an international charity, comes as new polling evidence reveals worrying levels of indifference to the Commonwealth among citizens its member countries.
Danny Sriskandarajah, Director of the RCS, speaking at the organisation’s headquarters in London on 21 July 2009, said: “We will ask people all around the Commonwealth - not just in Britain, and not just among the elites or the inner circle of the Commonwealth family - what they want out of the Commonwealth, what can the Commonwealth do to become more relevant in their lives.”
Former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku (left) with UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who gave the keynote speech at the launch, praised the Commonwealth’s “important mission” and called for “greater unity of focus and collective effort” in its work, particularly on issues such as climate change.
“The starting point for our Conversation has to be the world around us,” he said. “It is only by being relevant to the challenges and opportunities of the modern world that a relevant modern Commonwealth will be built.
“I believe the battle against climate change should be a unifying focus for the Commonwealth, involving not just practical exchange of ideas but political voice across barriers of region, race and religion.”
Mr Miliband stressed that the association needed “clear direction, identity and purpose” and should “re-examine” its work. He said: “If we are to renew and refresh our Commonwealth, we need to ask hard questions not just about our priorities but our structure, institutional arrangements and membership.
