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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) to Meet on Pakistan*

13 October 1999

Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku has called a special meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) to discuss recent developments in Pakistan* and the Commonwealth's response. In a statement from Marlborough House, he said:

I have been following closely developments in Pakistan* since yesterday's military takeover. As I indicated in my statement on 12 October, the unconstitutional overthrow of any democratically elected government within the Commonwealth is unacceptable to the association as a whole and is to be deplored. There is no question of a military regime in Pakistan* attending the forthcoming Commonwealth summit or participating in the councils of the Commonwealth.

I am awaiting the policy statement promised by the new military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, but I have already been contacted by a number of Commonwealth governments, who have expressed deep concern at the situation. I have therefore readily agreed to convene a Special Meeting of CMAG on Monday 18 October, at Marlborough House. The meeting will review the latest developments in Pakistan* and recommend further action by the Commonwealth.

Note to Editors:
CMAG was established by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1995 to address serious and persistent violations of Commonwealth principles as outlined in the Harare Declaration. It was reconstituted by Heads of Government at Edinburgh in October 1997. As presently constituted, it comprises Ministers from Barbados, Botswana, Canada, Ghana, Malaysia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Zimbabwe. It is convened by the Commonwealth Secretary-General.

*Following a military coup in October 1999, Pakistan has been suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth



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

99/57 13 October, 1999

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ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int