C'wealth leaders should project a united voice - Gillard
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. |