Secretary-General addresses CHOGM closing ceremony

Don McKinnon said that it has been as “enormous honour” to serve as Commonwealth Secretary-General over the last eight years.

His remarks were made at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting closing executive ceremony in Kampala, Uganda, on 25 November 2007.

“We may have moments of communion; we may have moments of discord. But we are eternally bound together – by values, shared concerns and shared interests,” he said.

Mr McKinnon congratulated Kamalesh Sharma, who will take up office as the new Commonwealth Secretary-General on 1 April 2008 after Heads unanimously chose him.

“I warmly congratulate Kamalesh Sharma, a man of stature, broad experience and deep commitment to both democracy and development.”

Mr McKinnon added that in his two terms in office he has tried to “take something good, and make it better.” He believes that this has happened in four ways:

• “First, we are stronger as an organisation of values.”
• “Second, we are stronger as an organisation of its time and ahead of its time.”
• “Third, we are stronger as an organisation that works on behalf of those who need it most.”
• “Fourth, I think we are stronger for being more open – looking out on the world and extending our reach.”

Click here for the full text of this speech

Secretariat Links:

• Commonwealth Secretary-General