Secretary-General: Commonwealth efforts on Zimbabwe will continue
12 February 2003
Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said today:"The Commonwealth will continue its determined efforts to help resolve the Zimbabwe situation. The welfare of the people of the country is what matters. I am aware that there are a variety of views regarding how to reach our destination.
"As Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, I look forward to continuing to work closely with members of the Troika and indeed all member governments to achieve our goal. My efforts to engage with the Government of Zimbabwe to seek a solution will also continue.
"The challenge of finding a solution to Zimbabwe's problems is a considerable one, but as in the past, I have every faith that the Commonwealth will succeed."
Note to Editors:
The Commonwealth Chairpersons' Committee on Zimbabwe (the 'Troika') comprises the Prime Minister of Australia (Chair) and the Presidents of Nigeria and South Africa. The Troika was mandated by Heads of Government at their 2002 summit to determine appropriate Commonwealth action on Zimbabwe in accordance with the Harare Commonwealth Declaration and the Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme.
On 19 March the Committee decided to suspend Zimbabwe from the Councils of the Commonwealth for one year with immediate effect. They agreed that the issue would be revisited twelve months later having regard to progress in Zimbabwe, based on the Commonwealth Harare Principles and reports from the Secretary-General.
The Troika last met in Abuja, Nigeria, in September 2002.
delicious
digg
reddit
facebook
stumbleupon
News feedsLatest Speech
- Commonwealth Sports Ministers MeetingCommonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma
Useful Resources
Subscribe to our weekly email news bulletin and quarterly ezine - click here