Illegal migration on CHOGM agenda

Illegal immigration will definitely be discussed during next month's Commonwealth summit (CHOGM) in Malta, according to Matthew Neuhaus, the Commonwealth's director of political affairs.

Speaking during a briefing for Maltese journalists at the Commonwealth Secretariat in Pall Mall, London, Mr Neuhaus said: "Illegal immigration is a serious problem not only in the Mediterranean but in the whole world and it will definitely be on the Commonwealth summit's agenda and will be discussed by the member states."

Malta has long been lobbying for illegal immigration to be on the summit's agenda, particularly because some of the illegal immigrants entering the island come from African countries which are members of the Commonwealth.

Mr Neuhaus said trade negotiations, the promotion and consolidation of democracy within the Commonwealth, the strengthening of tolerance and diversity and the problem of terrorism will feature prominently on CHOGM's agenda.

He said international economic issues would be given importance at the summit with the aim of establishing a fairer system of international trade.

The Commonwealth's political director said the narrowing of the digital divide, which will be discussed at the summit, was one way of creating a fairer international economic system. He praised the theme chosen by Malta for CHOGM - Networking For Development.

Mr Neuhaus said it was important that an action plan for the Commonwealth is devised at CHOGM in Malta.

He said the Commonwealth grouped together a whole range of countries, such as G8 members Britain and Canada, large countries such as Nigeria and India, EU countries such as Britain and Malta as well as many mini-states and this made the Commonwealth a unique organisation

He said the situation in Zimbabwe - whose leader Robert Mugabe pulled the country out of the Commonwealth - will not be on CHOGM's agenda. "The Commonwealth does not discuss the affairs of non-member states."

Mr Neuhaus told the press that the member states were currently working on a draft communiqué to be issued at the conclusion of the Malta summit. In fact, a meeting was held yesterday by Commonwealth diplomats at Marlborough House, the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat, which was presided over by Cecilia Attard Pirotta, the Permanent Secretary at the Maltese Foreign Ministry.

Prior to the press briefing by Mr Neuhaus, Maltese journalists had a chance to briefly speak to Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda, whose country will be hosting the 2007 CHOGM, and who was at Marlborough House to receive an award from the Commonwealth Partnership For Technology Management Ltd., which Mr Museveni has supported and encouraged.

Asked by The Times what issues he expects to be on the agenda of the Malta CHOGM, Mr Museveni mentioned better trade access for developing countries and a fairer international economic system. He also said terrorism will be discussed in Malta.