True inclusiveness is the core of the Commonwealth

The Commonwealth remains a constant and trusted partner that stands ready to assist the Pacific, Kamalesh Sharma told leaders at a meeting in Cairns, Australia, on 5 August.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General attended the fortieth Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd.

Mr Sharma invited suggestions from leaders on how the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), taking place this November in Trinidad and Tobago, can add value for members of the Pacific Islands Forum.

“At the heart of this CHOGM will be a theme that considers partnership, sustainability, and equity,” he said.

One of the initiatives which will be introduced at this biennial summit for Commonwealth leaders is a tool called the Partnership Platform Portal, or P3.

“It will create numerous internet windows through which to find information, resources, and interaction with those who share the same interests and priorities and an interest in partnering,” he explained.

“It will be a huge, non-duplicating new web-based tool for innovative governance and partnerships.”

As well as key themes which will be discussed at this biennial summit, Mr Sharma also outlined contributions of the Commonwealth to the Pacific:

· The establishment of a small states office for diplomatic representation in Geneva.

· A natural disaster insurance scheme, under which a government would receive automatic insurance pay-outs in response to agreed disaster parameters – such as a certain strength of cyclone or earthquake - rather than on the basis of an assessment of damage sustained.

· Strengthening economic and trades linkages and resilience through different areas of work such as assisting the Chief Trade Adviser’s Office in order to support negotiations concerning a new trade and economic agreement known as PACER-Plus.

· The Commonwealth Pacific Governance Facility, which will focus on strengthening governance in the Pacific, is now scaling up in action; a programme director will be appointed in the next few months and the location of the programme is being finalised.

The Secretary-General also spoke about the decision made last week about Fiji Islands by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which addresses serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth's fundamental political values.

The Group urged Fiji to “immediately reactivate the President’s Political Dialogue Forum process...by no later that 1 September 2009. In the absence of such confirmation, Fiji will be fully suspended [from the Commonwealth] on that date,” CMAG’s statement said.

Mr Sharma told leaders in Cairns: “Whether the full suspension occurs or not, it will remain my intent, on behalf of all Commonwealth members, to find ways to remain engaged, to promote dialogue with the current government there, and to promote dialogue between all the parties in Fiji who collectively hold the solution for the future and without all of whom a solution cannot be sustainable.”

Secretariat Links:

• Country Profile: Australia

Related Websites:

• Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat