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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration to Visit Nigeria

17 November 1996


The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) will visit Nigeria from 18 to 21 November 1996, Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku announced in London today. Recalling that this Group had initiated a dialogue with the Nigerian Government in June this year, he said: "The forthcoming visit to Nigeria will provide an opportunity to continue this dialogue. I expect that the Commonwealth's concerns and desire to see Nigeria's return to compliance with the Harare Commonwealth Declaration, will be conveyed to the Nigerian side; in turn, the Group will hear views from Nigeria, including on the status of its transition to democratic rule."

The Commonwealth Ministerial Mission will be led by the Group's Chairman, Dr Stan Mudenge, Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe. It will also include the Vice Chairman, Mr Don McKinnon, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of New Zealand. The other members of the Mission will be:

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Britain

Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ghana

Mr Ben Clare
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Jamaica

Tan Sri Dato' Musa Hitam
Special Envoy of the Prime Minister
Malaysia

Mr Azziz Pahad
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
South Africa


The Group expressed its regret that due to Nigeria's refusal to grant visas to two Canadian security officers accompanying their delegation, the Canadian Secretary of State felt unable to participate in the mission.

The Ministers will be accompanied by officials from their Governments. A Commonwealth Secretariat team led by the Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr K Srinivasan, will also accompany the mission.

Note for Editors:
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration was established by Commonwealth Heads of Government in New Zealand in November 1995 to deal with serious or persistent violations of the Harare Declaration. It consists of Ministers from Britain, Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa and Zimbabwe. It is convened by the Commonwealth Secretary-General and reports to Heads of Government.

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

96/60 17 November 1996

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