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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Talks with Nigeria

4 June 1996

A spokesperson for the Commonwealth Secretariat, Mr Michael Fathers, said today that the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) has welcomed the positive response of the Nigerian Government to its invitation to enter into a constructive dialogue over the issues which led to Nigeria's suspension from the Commonwealth , a decision taken at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, last November.

"A response by the Nigerian Government to the invitation (extended by CMAG following its last meeting on 23 April 1996), was received by the Chairman of CMAG, Dr Stan Mudenge, Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe on 28 May," Mr Fathers said.

"In reply to the Nigerian Government, CMAG has proposed that the dialogue take place at Marlborough House in London, the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat, in June 1996. It has also stated that the discussions should take place in accordance with established Commonwealth practice for intergovernmental meetings."

Commenting on these developments, Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku said, "I welcome the prospect of dialogue between the Nigerian Government and the Commonwealth and sincerely hope that it will be productive."

Note to Editors:
The eight-member CMAG was established by Commonwealth Heads of Government in New Zealand last November to deal with serious or persistent violations of Commonwealth principles. Its meetings are convened by the Secretary-General and the Group includes ministerial representatives of Britain, Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa and Zimbabwe. It is chaired by Dr Mudenge, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zimbabwe, and the Vice-Chairman is Mr Don McKinnon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand. CMAG has held two meetings to date, the first in December 1995 and the second in April 1996.

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

96/23 4 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