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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth sponsors international meeting on Cameroon reform programme

29 October 2003

The Government of Cameroon will present its agenda for wide-ranging reforms to international partners at a meeting sponsored by the Commonwealth on Friday 31 October.

The meeting, which will be held at Commonwealth Secretariat in London, will give the Government a platform to seek technical and financial support from its international partners for the co-ordinated implementation of the reforms. The reforms cover election management, human rights, the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and decentralisation.

Speaking about the meeting, Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said: "I'm pleased that the Cameroonian Government has embarked on a wide ranging reform programme with the assistance of the Commonwealth. This meeting will give the Government the opportunity to outline its plans to implement the agreed reforms before an international audience.

"At the same time, we expect that international partners will support this process and its implementation both financially and with technical assistance."

The Commonwealth has been in discussion with the Government of Cameroon on ways of assisting the country in fulfilling more effectively its obligations under the Harare Commonwealth Declaration.



Note to editors

In July last year the Secretary-General appointed a special envoy, Christine Stewart (a former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Canada), to engage more closely with the Government of Cameroon. During a meeting with Ms Stewart in December 2002,





the Cameroonian President Paul Biya agreed to the above mentioned reforms. The President also established a Cameroon/ Commonwealth Commission to oversee the implantation of these reforms.

The Commission will meet for the third time on 29-30 October, ahead of Friday's meeting which will be attended by representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, the African Development Bank Group, British Council, European Commission, La Francophonie, United Nations, Commonwealth Foundation, Commonwealth Local Government Forum, Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges Association and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

For media enquiries call Minelle Fernandez on +44 207747 6383.

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