Sri Lanka’s intervention prevented Fiji being suspended from the Commonwealth

(August 01, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Rohitha Bogollagama, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs led the Sri Lanka delegation to the Extraordinary Meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) held in London today 31 July 2009 at the Commonwealth Secretariat to discuss the recent political developments in the Fiji Islands.

The meeting was chaired by the Foreign Minister of Malaysia and was attended by the Foreign Ministers of Ghana, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, St Lucia and the Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom.

Minister Bogollagama at the very outset emphasised that the suspension of Fiji Islands from the Commonwealth as suggested by some member states will not be beneficial to its people and will not be helpful in pressurising the military government. Referring to Sri Lanka's policy as outlined by HE the President in the international fora that Sri Lanka is against imposition of economic or other sanctions on countries as such conditions would create immense difficulties to the innocent people. Citing international examples Minister Bogollagama stated that over one million children died in Iraq due to economic sanctions imposed by the international community and the Commonwealth should not follow such extreme measures.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama reiterated that it is the duty of the Commonwealth to continue its dialogue with the Interim Government of Fiji and pursue democratic reforms in that country with the participation of all stakeholders. Sri Lanka as a founder member of the moderr Commonwealth would be fully supportive of such initiatives taken by the organisation under the direction of CMAG. He emphasised that the Commonwealth should assist member states whose democracies are fragile to strengthen their democratic institutions in order to consolidate rule of law, good governance, media freedom and human rights etc.

Referring to a time frame for democratic reforms in Fiji, Minister Bogollagama commented that the Commonwealth should consider and adopt a constructive and feasible time frame for the Interim Government to return to democracy. In this context the Secretary-General and the Chairman of CMAG should consider undertaking a mission to Fiji to initiate a dialogue with the Interim Government in order to formulate a road map for democratic reforms with benchmarks.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama also stated that the coup culture prevailing in Fiji should be examined carefully and root causes have to be identified in order to devise democratic alternatives based on inclusiveness.

CMAG, after deliberations lasted over eight hours concluded that the Fiji regime should immediately reactivate the President's Political Dialogue Forum Process (PPDF) facilitated by the Commonwealth and the United Nations and also stressed that such a dialogue must be independent, inclusive, time bound and without any pre-determined outcome, and lead to credible elections in the country no later than October 2010; and Fiji regime should state its firm commitment to reactivating the PPDF as per terms outlined by the CMAG by no later than 01 September 2009 and this should be communicated to the Secretary General in writing. In the absence of such confirmation, Fiji will be fully suspended on that date. CMAG authorised the Chair and the Secretary General to consult on engagement with the Fiji regime should a positive response be received, and to furnish a report to CMAG's next meeting in New York on 26 September 2009.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama discussed with the Secretary General the agenda for Commonwealth Counter Terrorism Conference to be held in New York in September 2009.

Foreign Minister also took the opportunity to have discussions with his counterparts and exchanged views on important bilateral issues. Foreign Minister Bogollagama was accompanied by High Commissioner Justice Nihal Jayasinghe and Mr. Prasanna Gamage, Counsellor of the High Commission in London.

-Sri Lanka Guardian