C'wealth names new secy-gen
Sunday, 25 November 2007
KAMPALA, Nov 24 (AP): Kamalesh Sharma, currently India's ambassador to Britain, has been chosen as the new Commonwealth secretary-general.
The Commonwealth leaders Saturday chose the new secretary-general for their organisation as they continued informal talks on climate change, democracy and trade.
The leaders unanimously chose Sharma over the other main contender for the job, Malta's Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, Don McKinnon, the outgoing secretary-general, told journalists.
Queen Elizabeth II is the Commonwealth's symbolic head.
During informal talks that started Friday, climate change has emerged as a major issue, with leaders trying to see whether they can reach a consensus before an international conference on climate change starting December 3 in Bali.
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said late Friday there is a broad consensus building.
"We want to see Australia and Canada moving toward this consensus," said the spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.
The Commonwealth leaders Saturday chose the new secretary-general for their organisation as they continued informal talks on climate change, democracy and trade.
The leaders unanimously chose Sharma over the other main contender for the job, Malta's Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, Don McKinnon, the outgoing secretary-general, told journalists.
Queen Elizabeth II is the Commonwealth's symbolic head.
During informal talks that started Friday, climate change has emerged as a major issue, with leaders trying to see whether they can reach a consensus before an international conference on climate change starting December 3 in Bali.
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said late Friday there is a broad consensus building.
"We want to see Australia and Canada moving toward this consensus," said the spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.