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Marlborough House, London

Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to address press today, Friday, 26 April 2013 at 12 noon

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<li>The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) held its thirty-ninth meeting in London on 26 April 2013. </li>
<li>The meeting was chaired by Hon Dr Dipu Moni, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh. It was also attended by Senator the Hon Bob Carr, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia; Hon John Baird, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada; Hon AJ Nicholson, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica; Hon Dr Abdul Samad Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives; Hon Dr Samura Kamara, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone; Hon Bernard K Membe, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Tanzania; Hon Winston Dookeran, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago; and Hon Nipake Edward Natapei, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Vanuatu.</li>
<li>CMAG welcomed the recent adoption by Heads of Government, and signature by The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, of the Charter of the Commonwealth, encapsulating the core values and principles of the Commonwealth. It noted that the Charter reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s commitment inter alia to democracy, human rights, the rule of law, separation of powers, freedom of expression, good governance, tolerance, respect and understanding and the role of civil society. As the custodian of the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values, the Group pledged to continue to promote these commonly agreed goals.</li>
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<p>The Group reviewed developments in relation to the country currently on its formal agenda, Fiji

25 April 2013 – The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), made up of nine foreign ministers, will meet at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, UK, on Friday 26 April 2013. CMAG will discuss political developments in Fiji since September 2012, when the Group last met in New York. Fiji remains fully suspended from the Commonwealth and on CMAG’s formal agenda.

Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides meets with Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma

Foreign Ministers to confer on issues at London meeting

Final Report

Elections were credible and met many key benchmarks for democratic elections

Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba and Communications and Public Affairs Director Richard Uku attended the Kenyan presidential inauguration ceremony at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Nairobi on Tuesday, 9 April.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has congratulated Pakistan on the completion of the recent five-year term of its democratically elected civilian government.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has extended his congratulations to Uhuru Kenyatta, on Mr Kenyatta’s election to the Presidency of the Republic of Kenya.

Interim Statement

Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group, Festus Mogae, said the country was now in a critical period as it awaits the results

The Commonwealth Secretariat Spokesperson, Richard Uku, made the following statement today on the arrest of former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed in Malé on 5 March.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Maldives, Sir Donald McKinnon, today expressed concern at the rising political tension in the Maldives.

Arrival Statement

As Kenyans go to the polls to elect their leaders on 4 March 2013, Commonwealth observers have welcomed the positive steps undertaken by the country to build confidence in the electoral process, noting that these elections come at a critical time in the country’s history.

Commonwealth Spokesperson Richard Uku said today that the Commonwealth continues to monitor closely developments in Fiji, including those in relation to the registration of political parties and the development of a new constitution.

Some recent media reports have referred to a submission by the Coalition for the Defence of Democratic Rights in Zambia to the Commonwealth Secretary-General. Such a submission has indeed been received.

London, 20 February 2013 ‒ Former Botswana President Festus Mogae will lead a Commonwealth Observer Group to Kenya’s general elections scheduled for 4 March.

Elections were credible and met many of the key benchmarks

London, 15 February 2013 - Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has expressed his appreciation for the constructive discussion he had by telephone today with the President of Maldives, HE Dr Mohamed Waheed, regarding recent developments in the country.

Elections were conducted in a free, peaceful and transparent manner

Final Report

Final Report