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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Partners in Development: Commonwealth Day 2003 Statement by Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon

5 March 2003

Commonwealth Day is an opportunity to remember the values, traditions and aspirations we all share as Commonwealth citizens.

The Commonwealth is a community of partners working together and pooling their energies to generate wealth, build consensus and secure a stable peace.

We are partners in development, using our shared knowledge and resources to reach out to millions of people in the Commonwealth who suffer from poverty and hunger. The Commonwealth uses its influence to help create a level playing field in international trade, bridge the digital divide and tackle the AIDS pandemic.

As we turn our minds to the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which will take place from 5-8 December 2003 in Abuja, Nigeria, we must redouble our efforts to make globalisation more inclusive. If we are serious about eradicating poverty, fighting disease, opening the doors of learning and providing economic opportunities to everyone on the planet, we must ensure that every voice is heard in global economic forums and that the interests of the vulnerable are not excluded from discussions affecting their future.

The Commonwealth is also a partnership for peace and democracy, building trust and understanding between nations and providing a platform for global decision making. This role is very important, particularly today. What the world needs, now more than ever, is consensus building, not empire building. This is why international forums such as the Commonwealth can play a pivotal role - finding global solutions to global problems and encouraging multilateral decisions on issues that shape the world we share.
And of course, Commonwealth Day is when we remember that the Commonwealth is first and foremost, a partnership of people. The Commonwealth network comes alive in the efforts of thousands of individuals in some 70 organisations who, through their knowledge and expertise, help others in the Commonwealth achieve growth, strengthen their political institutions and enrich their communities.

The Commonwealth is not owned by governments, officials or civil servants. It is owned by the people. And it is through the joint efforts of Commonwealth citizens that we can collectively create better prospects and greater hope for all throughout the Commonwealth community.




Note to Editors:
Every year Commonwealth Day, which is celebrated on the second Monday in March, has a different theme. This year it falls on 10 March and the theme is Partners in Development.
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