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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Multilateralism is the only way forward, says Commonwealth Secretary-General

23 October 2002

Multilateralism is the only way forward, says Commonwealth Secretary-General

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon today said that by using the power of consensus, the Commonwealth "can contribute to create the conditions for a just, coherent and sustainable global diplomacy."

Delivering a lecture in Oxford at an event hosted jointly by the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and the Rhodes Trust, Mr McKinnon argued that, in an increasingly interdependent world, collective decision-making for the collective good was the only way forward. "Decisions taken unilaterally may sometimes seem to work in the short term, but are unsustainable in the long run. No global problem can be resolved by ignoring the voice of the poor and the vulnerable."

He added that in a global environment where there are a multiplicity of actors, it is crucial that every voice is heard. "As long as we only hear part of the story, we are only going to get part of the solution."

In his lecture, entitled "Multilateralism and Multiculturalism - the Commonwealth in the 21st Century", the Secretary-General said that multilateral organisations like the Commonwealth, where all member countries sit at the table as equals, "can play an important role in resolving conflicts and fostering dialogue between nations."

Mr McKinnon emphasised that creating the conditions for a constructive engagement between cultures was central to the work of the Commonwealth, adding that Islam played an essential part in that engagement. "There are approximately 500 million Muslims who are Commonwealth citizens. They are an integral and vital part of Commonwealth diversity. They add to our common wealth and to the organisation's weight on the international scene."

The Secretary-General argued that multilateralism was not only needed at a political level, but that it was also an effective tool for tackling economic deprivation and unequal levels of development. He concluded by calling for more inclusive and transparent arrangements for global economic governance and stated that a key objective of the Commonwealth was to ensure that the voices of its smaller and more vulnerable members were heard in international forums.

Note to Editors:
The full text of the Secretary-General's speech is available here
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