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Opening Ceremony of the 2005 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)

Date: 25 Nov 2005
Speaker: HE President Olusegun Obasanjo, Outgoing Chairperson-in-Office of the Commonwealth
Location: Valletta, Malta

Majesty the Queen, Head of the Commonwealth,
Hon Dr Lawrence Gonzi, Prime Minister of Malta,
Presidents, Prime Ministers, Heads of Delegations,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen of the Commonwealth Family.

I am pleased to be in Valletta for this meeting and to hand over the baton of the Chairmanship of the Commonwealth to Hon Dr Lawrence Gonzi. But before going on, I wish, on your behalf, to express our gratitude to Her Majesty the Queen for her consistent interest and support for our organisation. The fact that the Commonwealth is now globally recognised as a force for good, particularly in areas of democracy and development is testimony to the widespread acceptance of our established values and objectives.

Our Organisation has consistently worked for the improvement in living standards and has been a positive bridge between peoples in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Some of these achievements have been due to the support and encouragement which the organisation has been receiving from individuals, communities, organisation, and governments around the world and in particular, from Her Majesty the Queen. May you live long.

I was privileged to host colleague Heads of Government in Abuja two years ago. At that meeting, we committed ourselves to strengthening development and democracy through partnership for peace and prosperity. We also expressed the view that efforts aimed at eradicating poverty and improving governance are essential for greater international equity and global peace and security. We recognised that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have mobilised governments, international institutions and civil societies to reduce poverty with renewed vigour and commitments. We called for a successful conclusion to the next round of trade negotiations and attached higher priority to delivering the Doha Development Agenda. The Commonwealth Secretariat was urged to strengthen its technical capacity building programmes for developing Commonwealth countries to negotiate and implement their obligations within the WTO system and of Commonwealth ACP countries in their negotiations with the EU on economic partnership agreements in ways consistent with their development interests.

We pledged to bring the full weight of the Commonwealth to bear on trade issues where there is significant Commonwealth consensus. Among other issues, we pledged to support measures aimed at the recovery of stolen assets and their return to their countries of origin.

Your Majesty, fellow Heads of Government, I am pleased to inform you that the Commonwealth Secretariat under the able leadership of Hon Don McKinnon, has, within the past two years placed priority on the implementation of the Conclusions reached in Abuja. A high level delegation of Trade Ministers visited key trading capitals of the world to seek support for the successful conclusion of the next Trade Agreement in a manner consistent with the interest of the Commonwealth with emphasis on pro-poor development. The Secretariat has also organised meetings of Trade Ministers and, in collaboration with the EU, the Commonwealth has established a process of training officials of Commonwealth countries in the art of negotiating global trade matters.

We continue to work towards a more equitable global trade regime.

In the course of our deliberations, the Secretary-General will be presenting to you proposals aimed at facilitating the recovery of stolen assets and their return to the countries of origin. As follow up to Abuja, the Expert Group from 11 Commonwealth countries who were assisted by independent experts and observers have recommended, among other things, that Commonwealth countries should sign, ratify and implement the United Nations Convention against Corruption as a matter of urgency; the need for clear and strong sanctions against the misuse of public funds, and increased co-operation in every respect among nations in tackling corruption.

The outcome of the work of this group is one good example of how Commonwealth activities can be of direct relevance to contemporary events in member countries. For instance, in Nigeria, we are currently engaged in a determined crusade against corruption and the recommendations of this grou p could not have come at a better time. I look forward to a very lively debate of this report.

Corruption has been the one major source of underdevelopment, instability, conflicts, delegitimation of leadership and governance structures, and the intensification and deepening of disagreements in some of our countries. We need to adopt a zero-tolerance policy to this cankerworm at the local and international levels. For this to happen, co-operation between developed and developing countries is essential.

Two years ago in Abuja we accorded due recognition to the political activities of the Commonwealth, particularly those pertaining to conflict prevention and resolution. I am pleased to inform you that between Abuja and now, the Commonwealth Secretariat has been steadily promoting the establishment and maintenance of political stability in member countries by invoking the Good Offices Role of the Secretary-General to prevent conflicts; the use of Special Envoys of the Secretary-General to countries where peace is threatened; developing a new focus on conflict prevention because it is more cost effective, and providing observers for national democratic elections. May I appeal to member countries to continue to support the efforts of the Secretariat in these regards. There can be meaningful development only when there is peace, stability and security.

Finally, in collaboration with the African Union (AU), the Commonwealth is working to organise a major conference on responsibility after State House for former Heads of State and Government. It was postponed earlier for logistical reasons but we remain convinced that such a conference will contribute significantly to resolving personality clashes, building new platforms of dialogue, enhancing democratic practice and values, and enriching the quality of leadership and service delivery within and beyond the Commonwealth.

Your Majesty, the Commonwealth has been living up to the hopes of its founders and continues to contribute significantly to the debate on global economic and political issues.

Let us continue to work together to empower peoples and nations. Le us look buoyantly towards a stronger, more peaceful, prosperous and progressive Commonwealth.

Your Majesty, I am confident that with the values and structures that we have established, God on our side and with your leadership, the Commonwealth will continue to be relevant in our lives and to our communities and nations.

Thank you for your attention.

Download the speech: Opening Ceremony of the 2005 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)

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