Tonga attends Commonwealth and UN meetings in New York [1]
Tuesday, September 23, 2014 - 21:48
The Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano will be attending the 13th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting to be held this week in New York city, alongisde the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The annual meeting starts with Ministers being briefed on priority development concerns of small states, the Commonwealth’s interaction with the G20 group of countries and the post 2015 Development Agenda, on Thursday, September 25.
They will examine progress made in implementing the mandates agreed by Commonwealth Leaders in Colombo in 2013 and on the Commonwealth’s progress in realizing its fundamental political values set out in the 2012 Commonwealth Charter. They will also be briefed about the Commonwealth Secretary-General Good Offices work, Commonwealth election support and human rights initiatives.
On Friday, September 26, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) consisting of nine Foreign Ministers will meet for the second time this year. They are tasked with assessing serious of persistent violations of the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values.
Fiji which is currently suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth will be on the agenda, said the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Meanwhile, the 69th United Nations General Assembly will dedicate itself to reaching consensus on the delivery and implementation of a post 2015 framework.
Under Matters of Interest, the Secretary-General will also brief the Group on issues of concern in member countries under CMAG’s strengthened mandate to protect and promote the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values.