C'wealth should help to build democracies - Foreign Minister

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rohitha Bogollagama emphasised that the Commonwealth should assist member States whose democracies are fragile to strengthen their democratic institutions in order to consolidate the rule of law, good governance, media freedom and human rights.

Minister Bogollagama who led the Sri Lankan delegation to the Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) held in London at the Commonwealth Secretariat to discuss the recent political developments in the Fiji Islands, yesterday.

The meeting was chaired by the Foreign Minister of Malaysia and was attended by the Foreign Ministers of Ghana, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, St. Lucia and the Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom.

Minister Bogollagama at the very outset emphasised that the suspension of Fiji Islands from the Commonwealth as suggested by some member States will not be beneficial to its people and will not be helpful in pressurising the military government. Referring to Sri Lanka's policy as outlined by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the international fora that Sri Lanka is against imposition of economic or other sanctions on countries as such condition would create immense difficulties to the innocent people.

Citing international examples Minister Bogollagama stated that over one million children died in Iraq due to economic sanctions imposed by the international community and the Commonwealth should not follow such extreme measures.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama reiterated that it is the duty of the Commonwealth to continue its dialogue with the Interim Government of Fiji and pursue democratic reforms in that country with the participation of all stakeholders.

Sri Lanka as a founder member of the modern Commonwealth would be fully supportive of such initiatives taken by the organisation under the direction of CMAG.

He emphasised that the Commonwealth should assist member States whose democracies are fragile to strengthen their democratic institutions in order to consolidate rule of law, good governance, media freedom and human rights etc.

Referring to a time frame for democratic reforms in Fiji, Minister Bogollagama commented that the Commonwealth should consider and adopt a constructive and feasible time frame for the Interim Government to return to democracy.

In this context the Secretary General and the Chairman of CMAG should consider undertaking a mission to Fiji to initiate a dialogue with the Interim Government in order to formulate a road map for democratic reforms with benchmarks.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama discussed with the Secretary General the agenda for Commonwealth Counter Terrorism Conference to be held in New York in September, 2009Foreign Minister Bogollagama was accompanied by High Commissioner Justice Nihal Jayasinghe and Counsellor of the High Commission in London Prasanna Gamage.