Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to meet in New York

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which deals with serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth's fundamental political values, will meet in New York on 27 September 2008.

The only country currently on CMAG’s agenda is Fiji Islands, which was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth in December 2006, following the military overthrow of a democratically elected government. CMAG will review developments in Fiji and consider further steps to encourage its return to democratic civilian rule.

CMAG 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 (Chair), Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Uganda (Deputy Chair) and United Kingdom.

CMAG is the guardian of the Commonwealth’s fundamental values and addresses and takes action in response to breaches by Commonwealth countries of these values.

For media enquiries: In New York, please contact Eduardo del Buey, Spokesperson & Director of Communications & Public Affairs at e.delbuey@commonwealth.int and +44 77 4045 0901. In London, please contact Geraldine Goh, Assistant Spokesperson Asia/Pacific at g.goh@commonwealth.int and +44 79 1459 3518.

Secretariat Links:

• Democracy