Centrality, importance of C'wealth's fundamental values underscored

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The Commonwealth Minis-terial Action Group (CMAG) has underscored once again the centrality and importance of the Commonwealth's fundamental values as set out in the Harare Principles, particularly with regard to constitutional democracy, reports UNB.

The CMAG laid the emphasis in a concluding statement after its 31st meeting at Pall Mall in London Wednesday, according to message received here Thursday.

The meeting, chaired by Uganda's Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa, reviewed the developments on Fiji Islands, which was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth in December 2006, following the military overthrow of its democratically elected government.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Justice and Attorney General of Ghana Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Namibian Foreign Minister Marco Hausiku, Foreign Minister of New Zealand Murray McCully, Foreign Minister (Trade and Immigration) of Papua New Guinea Samuel T Abal, Deputy Minister of Malaysian Foreign Ministry Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom Gillian Merron MP, High Commissioner of St Lucia to UK Elridge Stephens and Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to UK Sumith Nakandala.

The Group deplored the fact that Fiji remained in contravention of Commonwealth values and principles; that CMAG's call for the Interim Government to adhere to its March 2009 deadline for holding elections had not been heeded and that the Interim Government had not indicated an alternative date for elections.

The Group reaffirmed that the engagement of the Commonwealth in Fiji should continue to be directed at protecting and promoting the fundamental values and principles of the Commonwealth, in the interests of the people of Fiji.

The Group emphasised that the Commonwealth's engagement should encourage a comprehensive political dialogue that is broad-based and inclusive of all major stakeholders in Fiji in order to secure sustainable constitutional democracy and a permanent end to the 'coup culture'.