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End of Year Message from the Commonwealth Secretary-General,
the Rt Hon Don McKinnon
28 December 2001
Who would have thought that when our expectations were at their highest for a more cohesive world, our hopes would be shattered and our minds numbed by the aircraft that plunged into the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon and crashed in Pennsylvania?
The terrorist attacks have brought a sense of urgency to our lives. We have come to realise that the problems our world is facing demand urgent attention. The challenges we were facing on 10 September—the fight against poverty, the promotion of democracy and the creation of a culture of tolerance—are the same today. But the need for immediate action is more pressing than ever. The clock was always ticking. Only now it is ticking faster.
Regrettably, the events of 11 September led to the cancellation of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Meeting and the postponement of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Many leaders understandably wanted to be with their own people during that difficult period.
But Commonwealth leaders felt they should not wait until the rescheduled CHOGM next March to make a stand against terrorism. Hence the statement calling for resolute action against terrorist activities which was issued in October. A Ministerial Committee has since been constituted to discuss ways in which the Commonwealth can contribute to the campaign against terror.
The Commonwealth can use the power of diversity to make a difference. The strength of the Commonwealth lies not in the power to deploy battalions, but in members' common commitment to democracy, the rule of law and pluralism. In a world that is becoming increasingly polarised, this inclusiveness is of particular relevance. By bringing together people of different faiths and cultures from a diverse group of countries, large and small, rich and poor, the Commonwealth can present a united front against those who promote intolerance and hatred.
World Bank figures show that ten million more people will be thrown into poverty as a result of the 11 September attacks. Tens of thousands more children will die worldwide.
We must resist the fatalistic view that poverty is a 'fact of life', that it is somehow unavoidable. Most poverty is created; it is in our power to eradicate most of it. The world economy has experienced unprecedented growth over the last decade. There have been few periods in history when the potential for eliminating poverty has been as great as it is today; we must do better.
Aid is one way of tackling the problem. That is why developed countries must reassess their current aid commitments in light of the UN target of spending 0.7 per cent of their GNP on aid. But aid on its own is not enough. We must find ways of helping our poorer members to take control of their own economies and trade their way out of poverty.
This will not happen, however, if trade barriers for developing countries' exports are not pushed over. All too often, the golden rule of international trade seems to have been: 'we are all free to trade, but some are freer to trade than others.' If globalisation is to work, it must work for the benefit of developed and developing countries alike.
The Doha agreement reached last month is a first step towards a fairer global trading system. But now comes the hard part. We must ensure that the momentum is not lost and that the next round of negotiations is conducted in a spirit of fairness, integrity and generosity, and that all commitments are implemented expeditiously.
The Commonwealth will continue to press for the reduction of the debt burden of heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs). 2001 also saw the launch of the latest version of the Secretariat's Debt Recording and Management System, a highly successful piece of software that helps more than 50 countries manage their national debt.
Social and economic conditions can also be improved through the promotion of democratic processes and institutions, human rights and the rule of law. Democracy not only empowers people and brings peace and social justice; it also creates the conditions for economic growth. Business people will only invest in countries where there is political stability, where government is open, honest and respectful of the rights of the citizen.
The Commonwealth has patiently pursued its work in all these areas. It has kept up pressure, engagement and diplomacy with governments which fall short of the Harare Principles.
A great deal of the work the Commonwealth undertakes occurs behind the scenes. Our strategy is one of discreet but sustained diplomacy. This means that our endeavours—and indeed our achievements—often go unreported. We must therefore make special efforts to ensure that our image reflects more adequately the reality of our work. Since I took office a year and a half ago, one of my main priorities has been to raise awareness about the role the Commonwealth can play in the world today.
In order to remain relevant, the Commonwealth must constantly reassess its goals and adapt its actions to the new challenges we face. The principal challenge is to embrace the forces of change without abandoning the values that make us strong; we must drive the process of renewal and at the same time recognise the need for continuity. And the way to respond to this challenge is, I believe, to play an active part in charting the path to the future. Adapting to the changing world means that we must also contribute to changing it. If we want to be ahead of the game, we must help write the rules. These are our future challenges.
It is with this in mind that a High Level Review Group was established in Durban in 1999, under the chairmanship of President Mbeki, to recommend how the Commonwealth should respond to the challenges of the 21st century. The Group, which was due to report last October at CHOGM, will now do so next March.
Despite the increased uncertainty in the latter part of the year, the triennial Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting took place last month, as scheduled, in Christchurch, New Zealand. This was a timely opportunity for ministers to devise common strategies to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS—declared a global emergency by Heads of Government in Durban in 1999—and to pave the way towards a Code of Practice on the international recruitment of health workers.
The events of the past year have also brought into sharper focus the need for the promotion of tolerance and a renewed dialogue of cultures. In an increasingly interconnected world, the 'live and let live' principle is no longer adequate. True respect for diversity demands not merely that we accept, but also understand, other people's identities and outlooks.
It is particularly fitting, therefore, that for Commonwealth Day, the Golden Jubilee of the Head of the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth Games in Manchester next year, we will be celebrating diversity throughout the Commonwealth. And diversity is very much on my mind, as we embark upon a project of enhancement of the Commonwealth identity in Marlborough House, the home of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The historian Eric Hobsbawm entitled his history of the 20th century 'The Age of Extremes'. In many ways, 2001 has been a year of extremes. Extremes of optimism and pessimism, of positive outlook for the future and deep concern as we tried to come to terms with the horrific events of 11 September. We all hope that 2002 will not be a year of extremes, but a year in which the spirit of tolerance and the respect for diversity will finally come of age; a year in which the Commonwealth, inspired by the report of the High Level Group, will ably meet the challenges our leaders put before us.
I wish you all a very happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year!
01/85 28 December 2001
The terrorist attacks have brought a sense of urgency to our lives. We have come to realise that the problems our world is facing demand urgent attention. The challenges we were facing on 10 September—the fight against poverty, the promotion of democracy and the creation of a culture of tolerance—are the same today. But the need for immediate action is more pressing than ever. The clock was always ticking. Only now it is ticking faster.
Regrettably, the events of 11 September led to the cancellation of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Meeting and the postponement of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Many leaders understandably wanted to be with their own people during that difficult period.
But Commonwealth leaders felt they should not wait until the rescheduled CHOGM next March to make a stand against terrorism. Hence the statement calling for resolute action against terrorist activities which was issued in October. A Ministerial Committee has since been constituted to discuss ways in which the Commonwealth can contribute to the campaign against terror.
The Commonwealth can use the power of diversity to make a difference. The strength of the Commonwealth lies not in the power to deploy battalions, but in members' common commitment to democracy, the rule of law and pluralism. In a world that is becoming increasingly polarised, this inclusiveness is of particular relevance. By bringing together people of different faiths and cultures from a diverse group of countries, large and small, rich and poor, the Commonwealth can present a united front against those who promote intolerance and hatred.
World Bank figures show that ten million more people will be thrown into poverty as a result of the 11 September attacks. Tens of thousands more children will die worldwide.
We must resist the fatalistic view that poverty is a 'fact of life', that it is somehow unavoidable. Most poverty is created; it is in our power to eradicate most of it. The world economy has experienced unprecedented growth over the last decade. There have been few periods in history when the potential for eliminating poverty has been as great as it is today; we must do better.
Aid is one way of tackling the problem. That is why developed countries must reassess their current aid commitments in light of the UN target of spending 0.7 per cent of their GNP on aid. But aid on its own is not enough. We must find ways of helping our poorer members to take control of their own economies and trade their way out of poverty.
This will not happen, however, if trade barriers for developing countries' exports are not pushed over. All too often, the golden rule of international trade seems to have been: 'we are all free to trade, but some are freer to trade than others.' If globalisation is to work, it must work for the benefit of developed and developing countries alike.
The Doha agreement reached last month is a first step towards a fairer global trading system. But now comes the hard part. We must ensure that the momentum is not lost and that the next round of negotiations is conducted in a spirit of fairness, integrity and generosity, and that all commitments are implemented expeditiously.
The Commonwealth will continue to press for the reduction of the debt burden of heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs). 2001 also saw the launch of the latest version of the Secretariat's Debt Recording and Management System, a highly successful piece of software that helps more than 50 countries manage their national debt.
Social and economic conditions can also be improved through the promotion of democratic processes and institutions, human rights and the rule of law. Democracy not only empowers people and brings peace and social justice; it also creates the conditions for economic growth. Business people will only invest in countries where there is political stability, where government is open, honest and respectful of the rights of the citizen.
The Commonwealth has patiently pursued its work in all these areas. It has kept up pressure, engagement and diplomacy with governments which fall short of the Harare Principles.
A great deal of the work the Commonwealth undertakes occurs behind the scenes. Our strategy is one of discreet but sustained diplomacy. This means that our endeavours—and indeed our achievements—often go unreported. We must therefore make special efforts to ensure that our image reflects more adequately the reality of our work. Since I took office a year and a half ago, one of my main priorities has been to raise awareness about the role the Commonwealth can play in the world today.
In order to remain relevant, the Commonwealth must constantly reassess its goals and adapt its actions to the new challenges we face. The principal challenge is to embrace the forces of change without abandoning the values that make us strong; we must drive the process of renewal and at the same time recognise the need for continuity. And the way to respond to this challenge is, I believe, to play an active part in charting the path to the future. Adapting to the changing world means that we must also contribute to changing it. If we want to be ahead of the game, we must help write the rules. These are our future challenges.
It is with this in mind that a High Level Review Group was established in Durban in 1999, under the chairmanship of President Mbeki, to recommend how the Commonwealth should respond to the challenges of the 21st century. The Group, which was due to report last October at CHOGM, will now do so next March.
Despite the increased uncertainty in the latter part of the year, the triennial Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting took place last month, as scheduled, in Christchurch, New Zealand. This was a timely opportunity for ministers to devise common strategies to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS—declared a global emergency by Heads of Government in Durban in 1999—and to pave the way towards a Code of Practice on the international recruitment of health workers.
The events of the past year have also brought into sharper focus the need for the promotion of tolerance and a renewed dialogue of cultures. In an increasingly interconnected world, the 'live and let live' principle is no longer adequate. True respect for diversity demands not merely that we accept, but also understand, other people's identities and outlooks.
It is particularly fitting, therefore, that for Commonwealth Day, the Golden Jubilee of the Head of the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth Games in Manchester next year, we will be celebrating diversity throughout the Commonwealth. And diversity is very much on my mind, as we embark upon a project of enhancement of the Commonwealth identity in Marlborough House, the home of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The historian Eric Hobsbawm entitled his history of the 20th century 'The Age of Extremes'. In many ways, 2001 has been a year of extremes. Extremes of optimism and pessimism, of positive outlook for the future and deep concern as we tried to come to terms with the horrific events of 11 September. We all hope that 2002 will not be a year of extremes, but a year in which the spirit of tolerance and the respect for diversity will finally come of age; a year in which the Commonwealth, inspired by the report of the High Level Group, will ably meet the challenges our leaders put before us.
I wish you all a very happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year!
01/85 28 December 2001
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