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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Secretary-General to Visit Singapore, Fiji Islands and Solomon Islands

19 October 2006

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon will travel to Fiji Islands to attend the 37th Pacific Islands Forum Summit to be held in Nadi from 23–26 October 2006.

“Good governance and a healthy democratic culture, as recognised in the Pacific Plan, have become crucial issues and prerequisites for stability and sustainable economic growth in the region,” Mr McKinnon said on the eve of his departure.

He will hold talks with Commonwealth Pacific Leaders and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Greg Urwin on a wide range of issues, including the on-going technical aid programmes by the Commonwealth and further assistance to be extended for the implementation of the Pacific Plan.

Mr McKinnon will also brief Commonwealth Pacific Leaders on the work undertaken by the Commonwealth Secretariat to carry forward the mandates of the Commonwealth Leaders at their meeting in Malta in 2005 and on preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda in 2007. 

While in Fiji Islands, Mr McKinnon will also attend a World Trade Organisation Seminar for Pacific Parliamentarians funded by the Commonwealth Parliamentarian Association, to be held in Nadi, on Tuesday 24 October.

En route to Fiji Islands, the Secretary-General will stop over in Singapore where he will meet with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong to discuss issues of common interest.

After his trip to Fiji, the Secretary-General will visit Solomon Islands to hold discussions with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and other key government ministers. Mr McKinnon will also convey the Commonwealth’s support to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands in its engagement in the country, and meet representatives of civil society and the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) in Honiara. The CYP promotes youth development through entrepreneurship and active participation in public policy-making processes.

Mr McKinnon will return to London on 3 November.

For media enquiries, please contact Geraldine Goh at +44-7730-900-020 or e-mail: g.goh@commonwealth.int

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