§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of conditions in Zimbabwe, they will call for a review of the rules of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group regarding suspension from the Commonwealth. [HL1897]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) has a mandate from Heads of Government to deal with serious or persistent violations of the fundamental political values contained in the 1991 Harare Commonwealth Declaration. The Commonwealth High Level Group, set up under the chairmanship of President Mbeki of South Africa at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Durban in November 1999, will be considering whether, and if so how, CMAG's mandate should be expanded.
56WA
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group is the custodian of the Harare Principles. [HL1899]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) was established in 1995 in order to deal with serious or persistent violations of the fundamental political values contained in the Harare Commonwealth Declaration of 1991.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether membership of the Commonwealth implies the observation of the fundamental values expressed in the Harare Declaration, and in particular the values of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and good governance. [HL1900]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalAll Heads of Government of member countries at the time of the Harare Commonwealth Declaration in 1991 declared their commitment to the fundamental principles expressed in this declaration. In 1997, at the Edinburgh Heads of Government Meeting, it was agreed that prospective new members should comply with the Commonwealth values, principles and priorities as set out in the Harare Declaration.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What would constitute a serious and continuous violation of the Harare Declaration, worthy of demanding investigation by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, in the context of the farm policy in Zimbabwe. [HL1907]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThere is no agreed definition of a serious or persistent breach of the principles of the Harare Commonwealth Declaration. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) has hitherto confined its attention to countries where democratically elected civilian governments have been overthrown unconstitutionally. CMAG's task is to assess the nature of any infringement of the Harare Commonwealth Declaration which is brought to its attention. A decision to add a country to the agenda would, however, have to be taken by consensus by all the members of the group.