Dinesh WEERAWANSA in Perth, Australia
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, on the eve of the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, urged Commonwealth leaders to unite and work together to face the world's key challenges such as economic stability, food security and climate change.
Premier Gillard, who takes over as Chair of the 54-nation Commonwealth, said yesterday that she expected the 2011 CHOGM to be remembered by all as "a significant event in the life of the Commonwealth".
She added that the international organisations as the Commonwealth have a new sense of purpose and promise to play at a time when the global economic power is shifted.
"When we see new and emerging countries playing an increasingly important role, organisations such as the Commonwealth have a greater responsibility. The challenge for us as Commonwealth leaders over the next three days during the CHOGM 2011 will be to make use of this opportunity to realise that purpose and promise," she told the media.
Gillard added that Commonwealth leaders should project a united voice on important issues such as climate change and sustainable development.
She commended Commonwealth for its ability to bring people together, not just governments and leaders, pointing to the business and youths' forums that have taken place on the sidelines of the CHOGM.
She pointed out that the Commonwealth had unique strengths; its diversity, its vibrancy and that it represents one third of the world's population.
However, she declined to detail the other issues that might be raised during the three-day meeting attended by leaders and foreign ministers of 54 countries in the Commonwealth. Gillard agreed that the Commonwealth needs to do more than merely set its core values but to act on them.
Commonwealth secretary-general Kamalesh Sharma paid tribute to the host country, stating that Australia is the only country to host a record number of three CHOGMs.
"We are about to embark on what I am convinced will be a landmark Perth CHOGM," he said.
Sharma added that the diversity of the Commonwealth's membership would help it make a significant contribution to upcoming global summits.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II arrived in Perth to officially open the Commonwealth leaders' meeting which gets underway in the Western Australian capital here today. She touched down in the West Australian capital on Wednesday to be greeted by hundreds of well-wishers before being whisked to Government House in central Perth.
Commonwealth foreign ministers concluded their meeting yesterday, ahead of the three-day CHOGM.
Commonwealth foreign ministers were split over how tough to get on human rights abuses in member countries. Official sources said that foreign ministers "are deeply divided" on the issue of a human rights commissioner and will pass the matter on to their leaders. "But the leaders too are unlikely to agree for such at CHOGM," a Commonwealth official was quoted as saying.
Tight security prevailed in Perth and today has been declared a national holiday to facilitate free traffic movements. Hundreds of extra police personnel from around Australia and New Zealand have been flown to assist with security during CHOGM.
The Police have demarcated CHOGM high security zones, amid fears that various protesters may disrupt the three-day event. But protesters who are planning a march to the CHOGM venue today have said that they do not plan to breach restricted security zones.
Source: Daily News, October 28, 2011
