New Year Statement by Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku

1996 saw important advances by the Commonwealth towards fulfilment of its fundamental values of democracy, respect for human rights and sustainable development.

After a period of political uncertainty, Bangladesh held multiparty elections under a caretaker government, which were observed and endorsed by a Commonwealth Observer Group. In Ghana, another Commonwealth Observer Group pronounced that the presidential and parliamentary elections in December were a free expression of the people's will. In South Africa, the process of forging a truly non-racial and democratic society was significantly reinforced by the promulgation of a constitution which is considered one of the most liberal and open in the world. In signing the constitution into law, President Nelson Mandela spoke of his "unshakeable determination that respect for human life and liberty be enshrined as rights and beyond any power to diminish".

The eight-member Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), established by Heads of Government to deal with member countries in serious and persistent violations of the values enshrined in the Commonwealth Harare Declaration, met no less than five times during the year. Nigeria, which was suspended from Commonwealth membership by Heads of Government in New Zealand last year, remained a source of concern for the Group. In June, talks were begun in London between CMAG and the Nigerian Government; this was followed in November by a further dialogue in Nigeria. The Group met General Sani Abacha and had useful exchanges with representatives of the various transitional committees, including the country's Human Rights Commission, leaders of political parties and traditional leaders. In order to be able to make recommendations to Commonwealth Heads of Government when they meet in Edinburgh in October 1997 for their biennial summit, CMAG will continue to follow closely Nigeria's efforts to achieve democracy and greater respect for human rights in the country.

By March this year, Sierra Leone had made a successful transition from military rule to a democratically elected civilian government, and the country's progress towards peace and stability after years of civil war was enhanced by a ceasefire agreement brokered with help from the Commonwealth Secretariat. In The Gambia, although the process was considered flawed by the CMAG, a Presidential election helped to bring about a transition from military to civilian rule.

In the field of socio-economic development, 1996 saw the launch of a new facility for promoting investment capital especially to those member countries that are often by-passed in the global private capital flows. The Commonwealth Private Investment Initiative which is a collaborative effort between the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Development Corporation, envisages the setting up of a series of investment funds in the regions of the Commonwealth. The first fund under this Initiative, the Commonwealth Africa Investment Fund, was launched at Marlborough House in the presence of President Mandela and the British Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine. Subsequent regional funds are planned for the Pacific, Caribbean and South Asia.

Other important initiatives pursued by the Commonwealth during 1996 included the joint support given at the meetings of the World Bank and the IMF by Commonwealth Finance Ministers to measures to alleviate the multilateral debt burden of developing countries; and a new Commonwealth Programme for tackling poverty at the grassroots level, launched at a regional Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting in Arusha, Tanzania, in September.

Throughout 1996, the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation continued to meet the needs of its members by providing specialist skills. Commonwealth experts have offered advice, including that on administrative, technical, social, managerial, economic, electoral and media matters, and have assisted in training in a variety of disciplines. In addition, Commonwealth countries, which are likely to be affected adversely by the erosion of preferences and high food import bills resulting from the Uruguay Round agreements, are being helped to formulate appropriate policies.

Sadly, 1996 also saw the continuation of situations of great concern to the Commonwealth: the Northern part of Cyprus remained under occupation by a foreign force, the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka with its attendant damage remained unresolved, and in the Bougainville province of Papua New Guinea, civil strife continued to cause great human and material losses. My hope is that next year will see a decisive movement towards a resolution of these unhappy situations.

There will, therefore, be no room for complacency; we must remain ever alert to the needs of our members and defend the values which we stand for and support. And I look forward with confidence to a memorable and successful meeting of our Heads of Government in Edinburgh in October 1997.

Issued by the Information and Public Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat,
Marlborough House,
Pall Mall,
London SW1Y 5HX,
United Kingdom.
Tel: 0207-839 3411;
Fax: 0207-839 9081;
Telex: 27678

96/69 30 December 1996