Give more time to Pakistan for restoring democracy - Lanka

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has expressed satisfaction on the outcome of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) convened by Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon, on Monday to primarily decide on the "Developments is Pakistan", on the eve of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to be held in Kampala, Uganda on November 21.

The meeting was chaired by Michael Frendo, Foreign Minister of Malta. Foreign Ministers from Malaysia, Lesotho, Sri Lanka, and the UK and Representatives of Canada, Papua New Guinea, St. Lucia and Tanzania participated in the session.

Commenting on the outcome, Minister Bogollagama said, "following extensive deliberations that lasted almost five hours, the CMAG succeeded in arriving at a formula which can be put to guest in Kampala, in terms of the progress Pakistan makes in fulfilling its obligations in accordance with Commonwealth principles".

He added that "conscious of the complexities Pakistan presently faces in maintaining stability while ensuring liberty with security," and that "Sri Lanka wished to have Pakistan given more time to demonstrate progress, which could be reviewed at the Kampala Summit".

The concluding statement of the CMAG urged the Government of Pakistan to fulfils its obligations in accordance with Commonwealth principles through the implementation of measures including, immediate repeal of the emergency provisions, and the full restoration of the Constitution and the independence of the judiciary, release of political party leaders and activists, human rights activists, lawyers and journalists detained under the proclamation of emergency, removal of all curbs on private media broadcasts and restrictions on the press, moving rapidly towards the creation of conditions for free and fair elections in accordance with the Constitution and that President Musharraf step down as Chief of Army Staff.

The CMAG concluded that at its next meeting on November 22 during the CHOGM, if, after review of progress, Pakistan has failed to implement these necessary measures it will suspend Pakistan from the Councils of the Commonwealth.

Sri Lanka's position at this meeting was greatly influenced by the fact that Sri Lanka was keen to ensure the continued stability of Pakistan, which was vital to regional stability. In South Asia and would assist in enabling the opportunity for greater dialogue within the polity of Pakistan, in order to overcome its present difficulties.