Secretary-General meets India’s External Affairs Minister

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma held talks with India’s External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi, India, on 25 October 2008.

They discussed the crises affecting the world - the global financial crisis and international efforts to address this critical issue, the energy crisis, food crisis and environmental problems, all of which impact on developing countries and vulnerable economies in particular.

The two discussed the importance of building the capacity of election commissions in the Commonwealth to strengthen the foundations for democracy. The Secretary-General said India, the largest democracy in the Commonwealth, can play a key role.

He added that India can also support the development of an information and communication technology (ICT) platform – the partnership platform portal – that can serve as an interface for internet connectivity for information and knowledge sharing within the Commonwealth.

Mr Sharma and Mr Mukherjee exchanged views on plans to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth in 2009. Preparations for the Commonwealth Games in 2010 to be staged in New Delhi were also discussed.

They also spoke about the incidents of communal violence in certain parts of India and their shared concern about its impact on social harmony in the multi-ethnic and multi-religious country.

The Secretary-General underscored the importance the Commonwealth attached to respect for diversity and the different identities of the individual, recalling the 2007 report by the Commonwealth Commission on Respect and Understanding. This report examined the issue of diversity and multiple identities. He said the Commonwealth had much to learn from successful examples within its membership of fostering tolerance and social harmony.

Key Links:

• Country Profile: India

Related News:

• Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India