Secretary-General addresses opening ceremony of CHOGM

During his eight years serving as Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon has said he was guided by the organisation's values – freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. 

Another “beacon” for Mr McKinnon in his time at the helm has been the Commonwealth’s citizens. He quoted a Maori saying from his homeland, New Zealand: “What is the most important thing in the world? People! People! People!” 

The Secretary-General spoke on 23 November 2007 at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which is being held in Kampala, Uganda. He welcomed Her Majesty the Queen, Heads of Government and representatives of Commonwealth organisations and civil society.

The Secretary-General also spoke about four aspects of the Commonwealth’s work that has directly addressed the mandates set by Heads in Malta in 2005: 

• A new publication ‘Civil Paths to Peace’ – written by “a group of our best minds” - looks at “the danger of extremism” and how to make “diversity work better”.
  
  
• The Commonwealth Connects programme, which helps governments develop ICT strategies and makes “technology available to all communities”, was set up to tackle the ‘digital divide’.
  
  
• The Commonwealth “continues to press for a better world trade deal” so that trade and links between countries can improve.
  
  
• Heads of Government “charged [the Commonwealth] with reviewing the way we take on new members”. Mr McKinnon said the Commonwealth’s response “shows how we can remain true to our fundamental values and open to growth.”  

Click here for the full text of the Secretary-General's speech

Related Websites:

• Don McKinnon's Kampala Blog
• Chogm2007
• CHOGM 2007 Opening Ceremony Photos