Foreign Minister Hon. Utoni Nujoma attends CMAG
28 April 2011


The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Utoni Nujoma, MP, attended the 35th Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group Meeting (CMAG) in London from 27 - 28 April 2011. CMAG was established by Commonwealth Heads of Government in November 1995 to deal with serious or persistent violations of the Principles contained in the Harare Declaration. The Group, which consists of eight members elected for a two year term, is meant to assess the nature of infringement and recommend measures for collective Commonwealth Action aimed at the speedy restoration of democracy and constitutional rule. High on this meeting's agenda was the situation in Fiji and its suspension from the Commonwealth in December 2006 following the overthrow of the civilian government through a coup'd'tat.

The Ministers also deliberated on ways and means to strengthen CMAG and to make it more proactive in preventing violations from developing into crisis. In this regard, CMAG is expected to report to the forthcoming CHOGM that will be held in October 2011 in Perth, Australia.

Prior to the CMAG meeting, the Minister addressed SADC Ambassadors and High Commissioners on current developments within the SADC region. He also had an opportunity to meet members of the British-Namibia All-Party Parliamentary Group at the House of Commons whom he briefed on developments in Namibia. The Parliamentarians pledged their support for Namibia in the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) negotiations with the European Union (EU). The Minister further had a working lunch with Lord Rana and Baroness Usha Prashar at the House of Lords during which they exchanged views on possible areas of cooperation between Namibia and Northern Ireland. The Minister accepted Lord Rana's invitation to visit Northern Ireland.

In addition, the Minister had a working dinner with a dozen UK-based captains of industry to highlight the favourable investment climate and to promote investment opportunities in Namibia. One of the participants at the dinner Mark Hohnen, Executive Chairman of Kalahari Minerals, earlier this month donated N$200,000 to the Namibian Government towards its flood relief efforts. The Minister used the opportunity to invite those present to participate at the forth coming Commonwealth Business Council Africa Business Forum to be held in London from 22-23 June 2011 under the theme of SADC Infrastructure and Regional Integration. President Pohamba will open the Forum in his capacity as Chair of SADC.