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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Secretary-General responds to Ancram

7 February 2003

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon today rejected the Rt Hon Michael Ancram's claim that the Commonwealth's failure to find a solution to the crisis in Zimbabwe destroyed "the basic credibility of the Commonwealth". Responding to Mr Ancram's remarks at the Royal Institute of International Affairs on Wednesday 5 February, Mr McKinnon said: "The Commonwealth is not a pair of boxing gloves to be used by one member to beat up another.

"On Zimbabwe, while it is true that we have not been successful, the Commonwealth has done more than any other international organisation. In fact, the Commonwealth is the only global organisation which has suspended Zimbabwe from its councils and which continues to remain engaged in the search for a solution. We will continue these efforts.

"But the Commonwealth is not simply about Zimbabwe. To make action on Zimbabwe a test of the Commonwealth's credibility is to ignore the wide ranging work and achievements of the Commonwealth in many areas. These include the quest for democracy and good governance, the fight against poverty and the promotion of trade and investment in developing countries.

"The Commonwealth is a vibrant organisation that makes a real difference to the lives of its citizens. A multilateral organisation such as ours is crucial in today's polarised world"

Note to Editors:

The Rt Hon Micheal Ancram MP is Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party in the UK and Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
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