The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) met at the Serena Hotel, Kampala on 22 November 2007. The meeting was chaired by Hon Michael Frendo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta. Other members of the Group who attended the meeting were Hon Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lesotho, Hon Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Hon Bernard Membe, Foreign Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon Samuel Abal, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration of Papua New Guinea, Rt. Hon David Miliband, UK Foreign Secretary, Hon Helena Guergis, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada, and Hon Dato' Joseph Salang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. A statement was read out on behalf of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of St. Lucia.

Pakistan

CMAG recalled the CHOGM Communique of November 2005, in particular the statement by Heads of Government that "the holding by the same person of the offices of Head of State and Chief of Army Staff is incompatible with the basic principles of democracy and the spirit of the Harare Commonwealth principles . . . until the two offices are separated, the process of democratisation in Pakistan will not be irreversible . . . (They) urged Pakistan to resolve this issue as early as possible, and not beyond the end of the current Presidential term in 2007 at the latest." CMAG also recalled its statement of 12 November 2007, following its extraordinary meeting on Pakistan in which it had "urged the Government of Pakistan to fulfil its obligations in accordance with Commonwealth principles through the implementation of the following measures:

- immediate repeal of the emergency provisions and full restoration of the Constitution and of the independence of the judiciary. This should also include full restoration of fundamental rights and the rule of law that have been curbed under the Proclamation of Emergency;

- President Musharraf to step down as Chief of Army Staff as promised;

- immediate release of political party leaders and activists, human rights activists, lawyers and journalists detained under the Proclamation of Emergency;

- immediate removal of all curbs on private media broadcasts and restrictions on the press;

- move rapidly towards the creation of conditions for the holding of free and fair elections in accordance with the Constitution.

- CMAG agreed that at its next meeting on 22 November, if after review of progress, Pakistan has failed to implement these necessary measures, it will suspend Pakistan from the Councils of the Commonwealth."

The Group expressed disappointment that while there had been some progress, these conditions remained substantially unfulfilled - the State of Emergency had not been lifted, the Constitution and independence of the judiciary had not been restored, and fundamental rights and rule of law remain curtailed.

Although there have been indications that President Musharraf may remove his uniform in the coming days, the Group noted that despite repeated promises made to remove his uniform, President Musharraf continues to hold the offices of both Head of State and Chief of Army Staff, even after the expiry of the Presidential term on 15 November 2007. CMAG acknowledged President Musharraf's intention to remove his uniform and looked forward to him doing so as soon as possible. CHOGM, 23/11/07.