President Waheed says that CMAG’s withdrawal of Maldives from
its agenda was encouragement to uphold the country's
sovereignty
President Dr Mohamed Waheed said that the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
(CMAG)’s decision to withdraw Maldives from its agenda was encouragement to
continue to resolve our domestic issues on our own, and to uphold the
sovereignty of the country.
The President made this remark while addressing the nation via Skype from New
York, following the CMAG’s meeting.
The President said that this decision of the CMAG was indeed a remarkable
victory for justice, constitutional governance, democracy, diplomacy and foreign
policy, and the people of Maldives. He also said that the Maldives would now
resume its place as a member of the CMAG.
Reflecting on the change of power on 7 February 2012, the President said that
the Maldives had faced a very challenging time in international cooperation,
during the transition. He said that former President Nasheed’s claims that his
government was overthrown by a coup, had caused some countries to cast doubt on
the legitimacy of the current government. Speaking in this regard, President
Waheed noted that the placement of Maldives in the CMAG agenda was due to these
false allegations.
In his address to the nation, the President further said that he had complied
with many of the demands and suggestions from various international actors. He
said that his reason for taking these measures was to uphold the national
interest above everything else.
Cmag Statement:
Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) NEW YORK, 28 SEPTEMBER 2012
Concluding Statement
1. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
(CMAG) held its Thirty-Eighth Meeting in New York on 28 September 2012.
2. The Meeting was attended by Hon Sato
Kilman, Prime Minister of Vanuatu; Senator the Hon Bob Carr, Minister for
Foreign Affairs of Australia; Hon Dr Dipu Moni, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Bangladesh; Hon John Baird, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada; Hon AJ
Nicholson, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica; Hon Bernard
K Membe, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Tanzania;
Hon Winston Dookeran, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Communications of Trinidad
and Tobago; and H E Andrew Bangali, Ambassador of Sierre Leone to Ethiopia and
the African Union.
3. CMAG Ministers unanimously elected Hon Dr
Dipu Moni, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, as the new Chair of CMAG.
Fiji
4. CMAG reiterated its commitment to
supporting and encouraging Fiji’s reinstatement as a full member of the
Commonwealth family, through the restoration of civilian constitutional
democracy.
5. Ministers welcomed continued progress in
Fiji, including completion of the first phase of voter registration and
commencement of the constitutional consultation process. Ministers welcomed the
broad-based national dialogue on Fiji’s future taking place through that
process, and commended the Constitutional Commission on its work to date.
6. Ministers emphasised the importance of a
constitutional process which is fully independent, inclusive and without
pre-determined outcomes.
7. Ministers expressed concern about
remaining restrictions on human rights and the rule of law, and urged the
Government of Fiji to address these, in order to create the environment
necessary for credible constitutional consultations and elections.
8. Ministers reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s
readiness to provide assistance to Fiji in appropriate ways and encouraged
further high-level interaction between the Commonwealth and Fiji.
9. Ministers noted the decisions of leaders
of the Pacific in relation to Fiji at a number of recent meetings, and
reiterated the Commonwealth’s commitment to working in consultation and
co-operation with regional and international partners.
Maldives
10. Ministers continued the discussion on the
situation in Maldives following their teleconference on 11 September 2012.
Ministers received with appreciation a personal briefing by H E Dr Mohamed
Waheed Hassan, President of the Republic of Maldives.
11. The Group expressed appreciation for the
work of the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Sir Don McKinnon.
12. CMAG Ministers welcomed the release of the
Report of the Commission of National Inquiry (CoNI), established by the
Government of Maldives to inquire into the transfer of power on 7 February 2012.
13. Ministers noted the Report’s conclusion that
the change of President in the Republic of Maldives on 7 February 2012 was legal
and constitutional, but also that certain acts of police brutality had occurred
during that period which should be further investigated. They looked forward to
advice from the Government of Maldives on progress with those investigations.
14. Ministers also noted the Report’s
recommendations that key institutions in Maldives, including especially the
judiciary, police and human rights commission, needed further strengthening. The
Group welcomed the commitment made by President Waheed to implement fully the
Report’s recommendations, including implementing reforms to strengthen the
independence and quality of these institutions.
15. CMAG reaffirmed its support for Commonwealth
assistance to strengthen democratic processes and institutions in Maldives. The
Group expressed support for the Commonwealth Secretariat’s technical assistance
for strengthening the long-term capacity of the judicial sector. Ministers also
welcomed the Secretary-General’s offer to provide elections-related assistance.
Additionally, CMAG appreciated the continued collaboration between the
Commonwealth and other international partners in the consideration of further
assistance for Maldives. Ministers reiterated their readiness to engage
constructively with all relevant stakeholders with the aim of reinforcing
democratic institutions, Commonwealth values and principles.
16. CMAG Ministers underlined their concern that
all parties in Maldives needed to work towards resolving the climate of division
and discontent in order to bring about lasting national reconciliation.
Ministers noted the importance of ensuring that the Majlis worked purposefully
on critical legislation, without further risk of disruption. Ministers again
urged against any actions that might provoke or incite violence.
17. Ministers urged party leaders to commit to
dialogue, paving the way to credible elections. Ministers emphasised the need to
ensure that all parties and leaders are able freely to conduct election
campaigns.
18. In accordance with CMAG’s enhanced mandate,
as agreed by leaders at the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting,
Ministers further agreed that they would continue to engage with Maldives
positively and constructively to support Maldives in advancing the Affirmation
of Commonwealth Values and Principles, in particular in strengthening the
judiciary, in the process of democratic consolidation and in institution
building. In this context, Ministers asked the Secretary-General to continue to
brief the Group on progress in Maldives, including at CMAG’s next meeting.
19. Accordingly, CMAG agreed to continue to
monitor the situation in Maldives, and to move consideration of Maldives in
future to its agenda item “Matters of Interest to CMAG”. Ministers looked
forward to Maldives’ resumption of full participation at CMAG’s next meeting, in
the absence of any serious concerns.
Other Matters
20. The Group further discussed relevant options
relating to the proposal made by the Eminent Persons Group for a Commonwealth
Commissioner for Democracy, the Rule of Law and Human Rights, as requested by
Heads of Government in October 2011, in Perth. The outcomes of CMAG’s
consideration of that matter will be reported to Commonwealth Foreign Ministers
at their meeting on 29 September 2012.
sovereignty