Commonwealth can help prevent and solve conflicts

Secretary-General Don McKinnon with President Musharraf during his recent visit to Pakistan.

Mr McKinnon was delivering a speech on 'The Commonwealth in the 21st Century' at the Institute of Regional Studies in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 23 October 2004.

 The Secretary-General said there were three reasons why the Commonwealth is "strategically placed to play an increasing role in helping to prevent and solve conflicts".  

He stated: "First, most conflicts today are within states rather than between states. The Commonwealth only intervenes at the request or with the consent of a member country. Our approach is based on building trust between the parties involved, acting with discretion and sensitivity. 

"Second, many conflict today grow out of ethnic or religious tensions. The Commonwealth, with its experience in managing diversity and generating consensus, is well suited to help find a common ground of understanding between warring parties. 

"Third, many countries facing internal conflicts are often reluctant to accept outside assistance as they perceive it as a threat to their national sovereignty. The Commonwealth has no battalions and, therefore, does not intervene militarily. It uses the force of an argument rather than the argument of force to help opposing parties pull back from the brink and bring them to the negotiating table." 

Mr McKinnon said the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) distinguishes the Commonwealth from other associations and gives it greater political and moral stature in the international community. This 'democracy watchdog', which consists of nine foreign ministers, is empowered to deal with serious or persistent violations of Commonwealth fundamental political principles. 

 He explained: "CMAG ensures that the Commonwealth does not confine itself to paying lip service to the values of democracy, fundamental human rights and the rule of law.  

"The mandate of CMAG was broadened two years ago, when leaders decided that countries could be suspended not only when a constitutionally elected government had been overthrown, but also when there were serious or persistent violations of Commonwealth fundamental principles in other ways." 

He added that it was "interesting to note that every country which has left, or been suspended, has sought to come back; we hope this will also be the case with Zimbabwe."

See Also: The Commonwealth in the 21st century - Speech by the Commonwealth Secretary - General Don McKinnon at the Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad 23 October 2004