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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to meet in New York – Fiji and Pakistan on Agenda

26 September 2007

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which monitors serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth’s values and principles, will meet in New York on 29 September 2007. It will review political developments in Fiji and Pakistan.

Fiji was suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth in December 2006 following a military coup led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama. The Commonwealth is closely monitoring progress towards elections, which would be required before the suspension could be lifted.

Pakistan remains on CMAG’s agenda following the lifting of its suspension from the Councils in 2004. The Secretary-General is expected to update CMAG ministers on his meeting with President Musharraf on 19 September 2007. The Chairman of CMAG, Foreign Minister Frendo of Malta, also visited Pakistan earlier in the year.

President Musharraf last week pledged to give up his army uniform at the end of his current term of office if re-elected for another term. The Presidential election is scheduled to be held on 6 October 2007. The Commonwealth has made it clear that it expects President Musharraf to end his dual role as the country’s President and Chief of Army Staff by the end of his current term.

The New York meetings coincide with the 62 session of the United Nations General Assembly.

For further media enquiries, please contact Victoria Holdsworth on +44 789 4-593-520 or v.holdsworth@commonwealth.int

Note to Editors:

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) was established by Commonwealth Heads of Government in November 1995 to deal with serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values.

The Group 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 Canada, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malta, Papua New Guinea, St Lucia, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom and United Republic of Tanzania.

Their task is to assess the nature of the infringement on the Commonwealth’s principles and recommend measures for collective Commonwealth action aimed at the speedy restoration of democracy and constitutional rule.

To date the group has met 27 times (excluding special or extraordinary meetings). The last meeting was in London on the 8 December 2006.

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