§ The Earl of Caithnessasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was discussed and what decisions were taken at the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on 20 December. [HL2182]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos)The group issued a strong statement on Zimbabwe and agreed that the situation there constituted a serious and persistent violation of the Commonwealth's political values and the rule of law. CMAG added Zimbabwe to its formal agenda. The group also agreed that Pakistan should remain suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth; Fiji's suspension should be lifted, though Fiji (and Solomon Islands) should remain on the agenda so that CMAG might continue to monitor developments in these two countries; and that The Gambia be dropped from CMAG's agenda now that Decree 89 had been repealed.
A copy of the concluding statement of the meeting has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.