NEWS RELEASES
CHAN TO ATTEND CMAG MEETING IN NEW YORK
September 13, 2000 (5:30 p.m. EDT) No. 231
CHAN TO ATTEND CMAG MEETING IN NEW YORK
Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan today announced that he will attend the
upcoming Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting taking place in New York
City on September 15 and 16.
"The Ministerial Action Group has proven to be a very effective tool for promoting democratic
development and human rights throughout the Commonwealth," said Mr. Chan. "In recent
months, CMAG has actively assisted specific Commonwealth countries in dealing with difficult
situations. We will review actions taken and discuss how best to deal with present and future
challenges."
At this particular meeting, CMAG members will focus on developments in Fiji, the Solomon
Islands and Pakistan. The agenda includes a debrief by Secretary-General Don McKinnon on his
recent visit to Islamabad, August 26 and 27, as well as a presentation to members by the Pakistani
Foreign Minister.
CMAG was created in 1995 with a mandate to recommend collective Commonwealth responses
to serious or persistent violations of the principles contained in the Commonwealth's Harare
Declaration on human rights and democracy. The present CMAG membership consists of
Botswana (Chair), Barbados (Vice-Chair), Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Malaysia, Nigeria and
the United Kingdom.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Jonathan Yendall
Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)
(613) 995-1852
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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