Twenty-Fifth Meeting of The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on The Harare Declaration (CMAG) - Concluding Statement

Concluding Statement

1. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) met in London on 10-11 February 2005. This was the Group's third meeting following its reconstitution by Commonwealth Heads of Government in Abuja , Nigeria in December 2003 and the twenty-fifth meeting since CMAG's establishment at the Auckland Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November 1995. The meeting was attended by the Hon Olu Adeniji, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria (Chairman); Hon Frederick A. Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service of the Bahamas (Vice Chairman); Hon. Monyane Moleleki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lesotho; Hon. Michael Frendo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta; Hon. Dr Abdul-Kader Shareef, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania; HE Mr H. M. G. S Palihakkara, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka; HE Mr Jim Wright, Assistant Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada; HE Mr Kamalesh Sharma, High Commissioner for India to the United Kingdom and HE Mr Tau'ili'ili Uili Meredith, High Commissioner of Samoa to the United Kingdom.

Pakistan

2. CMAG received a report from the Secretary-General on developments in Pakistan since its last meeting in New York in September 2004. Recalling its earlier Statements of 22 May and 25 September 2004 , in which CMAG had explicitly urged the separation of the military and civilian offices held by the President, the Group expressed its serious concern and regret that President Musharraf had not met his commitment to relinquish his role as Chief of Army Staff by 31 December 2004 .

3. CMAG noted that President Musharraf had been authorised by the Senate and the National Assembly to retain the two offices and has himself undertaken not to continue as Chief of Army Staff beyond 2007. The Group nevertheless urged President Musharraf to relinquish one of the two offices. CMAG expects the two offices not to be combined in the same person beyond the end of the current Presidential term in 2007 at the latest.

4. CMAG affirmed that the holding by the same person of the offices of Head of State and Chief of Army Staff is incompatible with the basic principles of democracy and the spirit of the Harare Commonwealth principles, as well as CMAG's expectations. It also stated its strong view that until the two offices are no longer combined in the same person, the process of democratisation in Pakistan will not be irreversible.

5. The Group recalled its earlier statements in which it had recognised positive developments in Pakistan 's ongoing commitment to genuine democratic reform, including through Parliament and other democratic institutions. CMAG appreciated the Government of Pakistan's determination to remain fully engaged with the Commonwealth at all levels.

6. CMAG requested the Secretary-General to continue to maintain high level contacts with Pakistan , including through his good offices role. The Group also encouraged the Chairperson of CMAG, Commonwealth countries and the Commonwealth Secretariat to assist Pakistan in the further strengthening of democracy, good governance, stability and institution building.

7. CMAG decided to keep Pakistan on its agenda.

Next Meeting

8. The Group agreed to hold its next scheduled meeting in New York in September 2005 in the wings of the UN General Assembly.