Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Ministers to visit Zimbabwe

19 October 2001

The Committee of Commonwealth Foreign Ministers on Zimbabwe will visit Zimbabwe on 25-26 October 2001, at the invitation of the Government of that country. The invitation was extended during the Committee's meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, on 6 September 2001.

The Committee, which comprises ministers from Australia, Canada, Jamaica, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe, and the Commonwealth Secretary-General, plans to meet President Mugabe of Zimbabwe and other members of Government, opposition leaders and representatives of civil society in the country.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, who will be in Zimbabwe for the meetings said in London today:

"This visit represents an important step towards implementation of the Abuja Agreement. I hope that all concerned will be able to agree an implementation timetable and that the visit will be guided by the Commonwealth spirit of dialogue and co-operation which underpinned the Abuja discussions.

I wish once again to extend my deep gratitude and appreciation to President Obasanjo of Nigeria for his continuing efforts through the Abuja process to find a lasting solution to the land issue and related matters in Zimbabwe, this important member country of the Commonwealth."


Note to Editors:

The Committee of Commonwealth Foreign Ministers on Zimbabwe met in Abuja, Nigeria on 6 September 2001, at the invitation of President Olusegun Obasanjo, and reached agreement on a way forward for resolving the land issue and related matters in Zimbabwe.


01/67 19 October 2001

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