The Commonwealth Foreign Ministers meet for their Annual Meeting in New York

H.E. Kamalesh Sharma (right), Commonwealth Secretary General opens Annual Meeting of the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers.  Left is Hon. Bob Carr, Australian Foreign Minister and Chairperson of the meeting.

 

The Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Annual Meeting in Session.  

 

High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Kingdom, H.E. Ambassador Peter Kallaghe during the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Annual Meeting.

H.E. Ambassador Peter Kallaghe (2nd left), together with various Foreign Ministers during the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Annual Meeting.  Tanzania delegation was led by Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP) (not in the photo), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.

 

H.E. Ambassador Peter Kallaghe (left), exchanging views with one of the pertinent Commonwealth colleagues about the Strategic Plan prepared by the Secretariat and the new Commonwealth Charter.

 

High Commissioner of Tanzania to the United Kingdom, H.E. Ambassador Peter Kallaghe (right) in brief discussion with Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth about the next CHOGM meeting scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in November 2013.

 The Commonwealth Foreign Ministers meet for their Annual Meeting in New York

By TAGIE DAISY MWAKAWAGO

September 29, 2012

The Commonwealth Foreign Ministers yesterday met in New York for their annual meeting to deliberate on a number of issues pertaining to the work of organisation.

The meeting chaired by the Australian Foreign Minister, Robert Carr, reviewed progress made since last October 2011 during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, Western Australia.

Most significantly, the meeting adopted a “Charter of the Commonwealth” and discussed the organisation’s Strategic Plans for the next few years.

Tanzania delegation was led by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP) and included the High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Kingdom, H.E. Ambassador Peter Kallaghe.

In his opening remarks, the Commonwealth Secretary General, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, thanked member countries for their active participation in the process leading to the adoption of the Charter.

The Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the new Strategic Plan Brief which resulted from the 38th meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) held on September 28, 2012 in New York, USA. Tanzania is a member of CMAG, a key organ of the Commonwealth.

Commenting on the Strategic Plan, Foreign Ministers reminded members of the need to ensure the relevance of the Commonwealth and to protect the organisation’s core value and principles.

Indeed, views were raised on the need to improve the Strategic Plan prepared by the Secretariat to align it with objectives of the new Commonwealth Charter in promoting democracy and development.

The meeting also received a report on preparations for the next CHOGM meeting scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in November 2013.

End.