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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Statement On Zimbabwe

16 March 2003

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, issued the following
statement in London today.

"The Commonwealth Troika, mandated by Heads of Government to deal with the
Zimbabwe issue, suspended Zimbabwe from the councils of the Commonwealth on 19
March 2002 for a period of one year. Under the Marlborough House Statement,
the issue was to be revisited in twelve months time, 'having regard to
progress in Zimbabwe based on the Commonwealth Harare principles and reports
from the Commonwealth Secretary-General.' At their subsequent meeting in Abuja
on 23 September 2002 the Commonwealth Troika decided to 'see how Zimbabwe
responds to the Marlborough House Statement over the next six months as
foreshadowed in that Statement, at which point stronger measures might need to
be considered.'

"Members of the Troika, in reviewing the Zimbabwe issue, agreed that I should
undertake wider consultations among Commonwealth governments. Accordingly,
over the past few weeks, I have been listening to the views of and discussing
the issue with virtually all leaders across the Commonwealth. They have all
stated that they wish to see the Commonwealth continue to work together on the
issue of Zimbabwe.

"Some member governments take the view that it is time to lift Zimbabwe's
suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth when the one-year period
expires on 19 March 2003. Some others feel that there is no justification for
such a step and that there is in fact reason to impose stronger measures.
However, the broadly held view is that Heads of Government wish to review
matters at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Nigeria in
December 2003 and that the suspension of Zimbabwe from the councils of the
Commonwealth should remain in place pending discussions on the matter at
CHOGM.

"I have advised members of the Troika of these views. I have also submitted to
them my report as foreshadowed in the Marlborough House Statement.

"The members of the Troika have now concluded that the most appropriate
approach in the circumstances is for Zimbabwe's suspension from the councils
of the Commonwealth to remain in place until Commonwealth Heads of Government
address the issue and decide upon a way forward at the CHOGM in December 2003.

"I wish to reiterate that Zimbabwe and its people matter to the Commonwealth.
All the Heads of Government I have spoken to have urged me to persist with my
efforts at engagement with President Mugabe and his government in the context
of my good offices role. I intend to do so.

"The issue of land reform is at the core of the situation in Zimbabwe and
cannot be separated from other issues of concern to the Commonwealth, such as
the rule of law, respect for human rights, democracy and the economy. The
Commonwealth and the wider international community remain ready to assist the
Government of Zimbabwe in addressing this key issue. I once again call on the
Zimbabwe Government to re-engage with the Commonwealth and the United Nations
Development Programme on the issue of transparent, equitable and sustainable
measures for land reform, as agreed at Abuja in September 2001. Commonwealth
governments also look to the Government of Zimbabwe to honour its undertakings
given to other regional leaders on issues of concern.

"The Commonwealth looks forward to Zimbabwe being able to regain its full and
rightful place in the Commonwealth family."


Note to Editors:
The Commonwealth Chairpersons' Committee on Zimbabwe, consisting of the Prime
Minister of Australia, Rt Hon John Howard, the President of Nigeria, H E Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo, and the President of South Africa, H E Mr Thabo Mbeki, was
mandated by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Coolum, Australia
in 2002 to determine appropriate Commonwealth action on Zimbabwe, in close
consultation with the Secretary-General. The Committee is also known as the
Commonwealth Troika.
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