Towards
a Common Goal
By Don McKinnon Secretary-General
WITH THE end of the Cold War
came renewed hope that democratic systems would spread
their influence worldwide and bring about increased
growth and prosperity. It was assumed that, democracy
and development being intimately linked, greater freedom
would bring increased economic development. But while
a number of democracies have indeed prospered, many
countries have yet to reap the fruits of freedom. |
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Most people would still argue that such a
link exists. But the key challenge is to understand how this
connection actually works, how democratic values and practices
can be harnessed to help communities achieve more growth,
develop better health and education systems, and increase
their living standards.
We also need to understand better how economic
and social development impacts on a nation’s democratic
culture. Greater knowledge about this process can help shape
future policy to ensure that economic progress enhances citizens’
opportunities and allows them to play an active role in the
democratic life of their country.
That is why Commonwealth leaders, when they
met in Coolum, Australia, in March 2002, agreed that an expert
group on Development and Democracy be formed. Chaired by Dr
Manmohan Singh, former Finance Minister of India, the group
was tasked with exploring the interdependence between development
and democracy and determining ways in which they can be mutually
reinforcing for the benefit of all Commonwealth citizens.
Democracy and development are the twin engines
of social progress. The two are inseparable. A country cannot
achieve long-term growth if its citizens are not free to play
their full part in the democratic process. Economic growth
is more likely to be achieved in a stable political environment
that recognises the value of the individual and empowers all
citizens to achieve their full potential.
The challenge for us is to harness this interdependence
and ensure democracy and development are mutually reinforcing.
In other words, we must make freedom work for growth and make
growth work for freedom.
Commonwealth leaders will focus on these issues
when they meet at the 2003 Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
in Abuja, Nigeria, from 5-8 December. The outcome of their
discussions will provide a road map which will define the
future direction of the work of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
This work will build on the Commonwealth’s long experience
in promoting democracy and on its achievements in economic
and social development.
Development for Democracy
The Commonwealth contributes to make a difference
in the lives of its citizens by helping them achieve economic
growth and build stronger, healthier and better educated communities.
Through the Commonwealth Secretariat, the
Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC), in spite
of operating on a very limited budget, remains a very flexible
tool which enables it to respond to the needs of member countries
quickly and efficiently.
Projects include, for example, advising governments
on how to attract investment to exploit natural resources.
In the petroleum sector, for instance, we helped the Government
of Namibia negotiate agreements with international oil companies
for offshore exploration projects worth over US$100 million.
A key objective of the Commonwealth is to
ensure that the voices of its smaller and more vulnerable
members are heard in international forums. That is why the
Secretariat has set up a Small States Office to facilitate
the representation of some of our smallest member states at
the United Nations in New York.
We help our smaller member states by providing
experts who assist them to formulate and implement trade policy
and to pursue their interests more effectively in the process
of international trade negotiations. In particular, our ‘Hub
and Spokes’ programme provides training and support
at both national and regional levels in order to better integrate
regional policy into the international trading system.
Small states – and developing countries
in general – face particular challenges, such as the
recruitment of health professionals to more developed countries.
Recognising this problem the Commonwealth Secretariat has
developed a code of practice for Commonwealth countries which
our Health Ministers have adopted at their meeting in Geneva
in May 2003.
The Commonwealth recognises the need for all
its citizens to have a voice in the future of their communities.
This is why education, health and gender mainstreaming programmes
are crucial to the Commonwealth’s work.
Democracy for Development
In every aspect of our work, we also acknowledge
that countries cannot achieve long-term growth without strong,
stable democratic institutions, respect for justice and human
rights and a culture of transparency and good governance.
One of the key features of our work is our
expanding good offices programme, which strives to pre-empt
conflicts and to resolve them when they do occur.
We also help strengthen democratic practices
by observing elections, by supporting the development of institutions
which safeguard fundamental democratic values, by promoting
transparency and accountability in public life and by sharing
best practice among Commonwealth countries.
The Commonwealth has shown on many occasions
– and continues to show – that its commitment
to democracy, human rights and the rule of law is not merely
rhetorical.
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
on the Harare Declaration (CMAG), was set up in 1995 to act
as the custodian of our fundamental political values;
The Commonwealth was the first international
organisation which made it virtually automatic that a country
is suspended from its councils in the event of the unconstitutional
overthrow of an elected government;
At Coolum last year, our Heads of Government
further empowered CMAG to address situations of serious or
persistent violation of the Harare principles even when no
overthrow of an elected government had taken place.
At present, two member countries are suspended
from the councils of the Commonwealth: Pakistan and Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe was suspended in March 2002 following
the report of the Commonwealth Observer Group at the Presidential
election. Since then, the Troika of Commonwealth leaders constituted
at the last CHOGM has sought to engage with the Zimbabwe Government
in order to help find a solution that would benefit all the
people of the country. I myself have sought such engagement.
But despite our best efforts, all our attempts at establishing
a dialogue have been spurned and we have seen the situation
in Zimbabwe deteriorate continuously.
We will continue in our efforts, however,
for our main concern is for the people of Zimbabwe, who are
suffering most from this crisis. The only way forward is through
constructive engagement, dialogue and reconciliation. That
is the way we have fostered from the start and will continue
to pursue.
Pakistan remains suspended from the councils
of the Commonwealth, but has made significant progress in
the re-establishment of democratic institutions. CMAG is to
review Pakistan’s status in the Commonwealth in December
2003.
Consensus
One of the key elements of the Commonwealth’s
future programme of work will be to develop initiatives and
projects which address development and democracy issues in
an integrated fashion.
One important way of achieving progress on
both fronts is through consensus-building. The process of
global dialogue on which the Commonwealth is based allows
leaders to develop joint approaches to problems of common
concern and find a way through some of the most protracted
issues.
As a multilateral organisation, the Commonwealth
is ideally placed to help countries work through their differences
in a spirit of partnership and collaboration. The Commonwealth
is a unique forum for global diplomacy and joint decision-making,
where the views of all members are listened to and no single
country has the upper hand.
One example of effective consensus-building
is the Statement on Terrorism issued by Commonwealth leaders
shortly after the 11 September 2001 attacks. Since then, the
Secretariat has been developing model legislation and implementing
kits to assist member countries with the adoption of appropriate
counter-terrorism measures.
We also use the power of consensus in the
area of trade and economic development. Because it embraces
such a great diversity of states – large and small,
rich and poor, island and land-locked – the Commonwealth
is strategically placed to ensure that the voices of its smaller
and developing members are not ignored by the big players.
Indeed, when Commonwealth Trade Ministers
met in Cancun in September 2003, they gave their joint support
to the Doha Development Agenda as a means to achieve greater
fairness in international trade.
The greatest obstacle for effective consensus-building
is often the lack of common ground between the nations involved.
It is here, precisely, that the Commonwealth advantage lies:
our nations are not only united by self-interest; they also
share common values, similar political, judicial and administrative
structures; they share a common language and a similar business
culture. So when it comes to debating difficult issues, we
start from a position of common understanding.
This shared sense of belonging is greatly
reinforced by the dynamic and hugely diverse Commonwealth
civil society community. Indeed, multilateralism does not
only operate at an intergovernmental level. Multilateralism
is also at the root of the unique relationship that binds
the ‘official Commonwealth’ and our civil society
community.
The Commonwealth network comes alive in the
efforts of thousands of individuals in some 70 organisations
who, through their knowledge and expertise, strengthen cooperation
among the people of the Commonwealth. It is thanks to this
thriving community that dialogue between Commonwealth countries
does not remain at a superficial level, but is rooted in a
deep mutual understanding.
The energy and innovative contributions of
our NGO community will be on full display at the People’s
Forum in Abuja, providing one further illustration of how
consensus can be an instrument of progress for democracy and
development.
I am also confident that the forthcoming CHOGM
will demonstrate that, by strengthening existing partnerships
and building new ones, we can achieve sustained growth, greater
justice and more freedom for the entire Commonwealth community.
The challenges we all face are huge. But the
potential for change and progress that can be found in the
Commonwealth is also great. By working together, we can show
how dialogue between equal partners can deliver new opportunities
and greater life chances to every citizen in the Commonwealth.
Don McKinnon has been Commonwealth Secretary-General
since April 2000. He previously held a number of Cabinet positions
in the New Zealand Government, including Deputy Prime Minister
(1990-96) and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade (1990-99).
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