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Commonwealth united against terror

By our Special Correspondent in Coolum, Brisbane

The Commonwealth leaders unanimously decided that any member nation, which harbours terrorism, should have no place in the 54-member grouping.

Adopting the report of the ten-member Commonwealth Committee on Terrorism (CCT) of which Sri Lanka is also a member, the leaders stressed the need to take stern action against member nations that aided, supported, instigated, financed or harboured terrorists or permitted such activities within its jurisdiction.

"This is a great leap forward in combating terrorism and we will make more advancement when we meet next time," Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando told reporters. He took part in CCT a meeting in London a month ago.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is to prepare model legislation and guidelines for member countries to use as a basis for the development of domestic implementation legislation and associated measures, according to the CCT report.

While the issue of terrorism topping the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting here in the remote beach city of Coolum, Brisbane, some countries like the UK, Canada and Australia were lobbying member nations to take action against Zimbabwe.

According to diplomatic sources their attempts will not be a success since a large number of other member states are of the view that such an attempt should be based on a proper investigation procedure. Also they envisage that no measure should be taken before the elections in Zimbabwe, said an African diplomat.

Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer met Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando yesterday morning and had extensive talks regarding the ongoing peace process in Sri Lanka and current issues before the Commonwealth.

He had hailed the UNF government's initiative of commencing the process of marching towards the negotiating table just after electing to office. He has offered any assistance that Sri Lanka needed in this process, official sources said.

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