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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Ministers to Visit The Gambia

11 June 1996

A three-member Commonwealth Ministerial Mission will visit The Gambia from 12 to 13 June 1996 to reinforce Commonwealth support for The Gambia's transition from military rule to civilian constitutional democracy. The Mission, which was agreed by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in April 1996, will take the opportunity to view at first hand the latest developments in the transition programme, to explore with the Government of The Gambia areas in which further multilateral and bilateral assistance for the transition could be provided by the Commonwealth, as well as to interact with a broad cross-section of Gambian civil society.

The Mission will be led by the Hon Dr Obed Asamoah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana, and will include the Hon Mrs Christine Stewart MP, Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Canada, and the Hon Sir Robin Gray MP, Minister of State and Associate Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand. Two Commonwealth Secretariat officers will accompany them.

CMAG was established by Heads of Government in New Zealand in November 1995 to deal with serious or persistent violations of Commonwealth principles and recommend measures for collective Commonwealth action. It was first convened by the Secretary-General in December 1995 and met for the second time in April 1996.

Note to Editors:
According to the revised transition programme announced recently by the Provisional Independent Electoral Commission of The Gambia, a referendum on the Draft Constitution is due to be held on 7 August 1996, Presidential Elections on 11 September 1996, and National Assembly Elections on 11 December 1996. The Commonwealth is providing technical assistance to The Gambia to facilitate the transition.

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

96/24 11 June 1996

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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