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Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to meet in London

17 April 2008

CMAG will review the suspension of Pakistan

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which addresses serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth’s values and principles, will meet in London on 12 May 2008. CMAG will review the suspension of Pakistan and consider political developments in Fiji Islands.

Pakistan was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth on 22 November 2007, after the imposition of emergency rule in the country earlier that month. CMAG had, at that time, agreed to review progress in Pakistan after the conduct of scheduled elections, which eventually took place on 18 February 2008, and a new government has now been installed in Islamabad.

Fiji was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth in December 2006 following a military coup. The Commonwealth is closely monitoring progress towards elections, which would be required before the suspension can be lifted.

Pakistan was previously suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth in October 1999 and restored to full membership in May 2004. However, it remained on the agenda of CMAG, pending the separation of the offices of Head of State and Chief of Army Staff.

CMAG was established by Commonwealth Heads of Government in November 1995 to deal with serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values.

The Group is convened by the Secretary-General and is composed of the Foreign Ministers of nine Commonwealth member countries. It currently includes the Foreign Ministers of Ghana, Malaysia, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Lucia, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and the United Kingdom.

Their task is to assess the nature of the infringement on the Commonwealth’s principles and recommend measures for collective Commonwealth action aimed at the speedy restoration of democracy and constitutional rule.