C'wealth Heads of Govt Meeting begins Dec 5
FM leaves for Nigeria
UNB, Dhaka
Foreign Minister Morshed Khan left for Nigeria yesterday to lead the Bangladesh delegation at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in the Nigerian capital of Abuja from December 5 to 8.Foreign Secretary Shamser Mobin Chowdhury is on the five-member Bangladesh delegation. The special theme of this year's CHOGM is 'Development and Democracy: Partnership for Peace and Prosperity'. Dhaka will highlight the achievements in building democratic institutions and establishing the rule of law, independence of judiciary and human rights in Bangladesh and share experience with the member states. The Millennium Development Goals and multilateral trade issues will figure high on the agenda, officials said. Morshed Khan will also take part in pre-CHOGM meetings, including the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting and Ministerial Group on Small States (MGSS) meeting. The CMAG would discuss, among others, restoration of Common-wealth memberships of several countries, including Pakistan and Zimbabwe. The Commonwealth summit would deal with the question of reconstruction of the CMAG as well as election of a new secretary general of the forum. The four-year term of incumbent Secretary General Don McKinnon expires on March 31, 2004. New Zealand has been campaigning for a second stint for McKinnon. Sri Lanka has recently named its former foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, advisor to the Lankan president, for the coveted post. The CHOGM will conclude on December 8 with the adoption of the Final Communiqué.
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