Tolerance, extremism expected to be on CHOGM agenda

The question of tolerance and harnessing faiths and culture to address extremism and intolerance, which has helped feed the scourge of terrorism, is an emerging issue for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta.

Matthew Neuhaus, director of the political affairs division within the Commonwealth Secretariat, expects that the issue will be on the agenda of the meeting to be held next month.

"The Commonwealth with its many faiths and people working together within a system of common values gives great hope that our heads of government can help indicate ways forward for the world," he said.

"It is perhaps the most far reaching issue the Commonwealth could turn its mind to, and is especially relevant to Africa with its large groups of Christians, Muslims, traditional religions and other faiths living side by side in many of the continent's nations."

Mr Neuhaus was addressing a one-day expert conference on Monday on The Commonwealth, Europe and African Development at the Foundation for International Studies, Valletta.

The conference, organised by the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU) in collaboration with FIS, focused on African priorities and external assistance, the role of the rich countries of the world (G8), and the role of Malta as a bridge between Europe, the Commonwealth and Africa.

Mr Neuhaus said he was looking forward to one of the best-organised CHOGM's, with fantastic facilities: "Malta is putting in an outstanding effort".

Among the issues to be dealt with were better governance and democratic systems to create a sustainable environment for pro-poor development, and tackling the digital divide.

"Malta has been a leader in this area and under the theme of 'networking for development' heads will be considering strategies for addressing the digital divide," he said.

This was of immense importance to Africa, where the liberalisation of telecommunications and the introduction of the mobile phone was freeing the continent from decades of retarded development and from inefficient, expensive and highly limited state-owned phone companies, he pointed out.

Mr Neuhaus also expressed the hope that this will become known as the CHOGM that properly engaged the EU at a high level, building on several years of work in developing a strategic partnership in various areas. "With Malta and Cyprus now as EU members, as well as the UK, it strengthens the Commonwealth engagement with, and understanding of, the EU," he said.

The issue of tolerance was also broached by Foreign Minister Michael Frendo who pointed out that the phenomenon of illegal immigration had driven the message home that development in other countries was crucial.

"The issue of illegal immigration should not be divorced from development - it's at the heart of addressing this issue. At the end of the day it remains a lack of development that is driving people with diminished hope to move on to a better life," he said.

Dr Frendo also tackled the importance of creating synergy between the Commonwealth and the EU.

CPSU head Richard Bourne said the Commonwealth heads should commit to a two-fold approach to ensure that the promised gains in Africa in 2005 actually materialised.

"In conjunction with the African Union and the EU they should establish an international monitoring group to report regularly on the progress in debt relief, development aid and market access," he said.

They should also stimulate, within civil society, the private sector and among academics, the establishment of watch groups to ensure that the expected gains occur in-country and are not blocked by international failure, national incompetence or corruption.