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Media Statement by President Thabo Mbeki: Commonwealth Day 2007,
Monday, 12 March 2007 Commonwealth Day will take place on Monday, 12 March
2007 and the theme for this year is "The Commonwealth: respecting differences,
promoting understanding". South Africa will use this opportunity to renew
our commitment to the Commonwealth's shared values of tolerance, respect, and
equality and to uphold its fundamental principles of democracy, human rights,
the rule of law and sustainable socio-economic development. During 2007, members
of the Commonwealth will give special attention to the tensions that exist world-wide
and within their own countries, between communities, faiths and ethnic groups.
In order to create a better world for all, we should all learn to respect our
differences, learn from each other and promote understanding. The Commonwealth
is a working example of diversity, it comprises 53 member countries on every continent
and major ocean and with a combined population of 1,8 billion (1/4 of world population),
making up 1/5th of world trade. It is an important multilateral institution uniting
countries within common historical backgrounds. It provides an opportunity for
South Africa and its other members to promote matters of common interest. The
tradition and history of the Commonwealth, including the designation of representatives
of its member countries, are important uniting factors. Notwithstanding the geographical,
religious and cultural diversity of its membership, the Commonwealth is united
by its shared ideals and common traditions and manifested in similar structures
of governance, public administration and law, a common working language, commercial
and business practices and understanding. Since rejoining the Commonwealth
in 1994, South Africa has interacted closely with the work of the Commonwealth.
A recent example of this interaction is the hosting of the 16th Conference of
Commonwealth Education Ministers from 11 to 14 December 2006 in Cape Town. Under
the theme, "Access to Quality Education", Ministers reviewed the progress
in education across the Commonwealth, while for the first time at a Commonwealth
Education Ministers' Conference, three parallel events namely, the Teachers Forum,
Stakeholders Forum and Youth Forum were hosted to address education problems from
the perspective of teachers, academics, national and international agencies as
well as the youth. We continue to hold aloft the principles to which the
commonwealth adheres as constituting a correct and desirable foundation for a
better world we all seek to build. Today more than any time in the past, there
is a dire need for multilateralism as an indispensable way to address global challenges
of all kind. Naturally, the application of this valuable principle is predicated
on the important fact that no state, no matter how small or weak, is of no consequences
enough to be disregarded in the international arena of multinational discourse.
The Commonwealth serves as glue that holds together our nations and consolidates
our common areas of interest even as it recognizes our differences, because of
our common heritage of historical commonalities, links, and the common benefit
we collectively stand to gain from forging closer strategic links. Through
its work we hope to expedite the process towards the achievement of the Millennium
Development Goals of halving poverty and advancing democracy and development,
especially as challenges facing the developing countries, which constitute a good
number of Commonwealth memberships. South Africa is looking forward to
the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that will be held in Kampala,
Uganda from 23 to 25 November 2007. The theme for this event is "Transforming
Commonwealth Societies to achieve political, economic and human development".
South Africa is working closely with the Ugandan government to achieve the goals
set for the Kampala CHOGM. As host of the 1999 CHOGM and various international
conferences, South Africa attended a preparatory meeting in Uganda in January
2007 to share its experiences with international conferences with the organizers
of the Kampala CHOGM. South Africa sees each CHOGM as an opportunity to share
best practices and experiences with countries that have transformed and modernized
their societies politically and economically and give members the opportunity
to replicate the successes throughout the Commonwealth. The Conference convened
on African soil, will provide a good forum to discuss the African perspective
as it relates to the theme and thus an opportunity to advance the African Agenda.
The government of South Africa feels confident that through our Commonwealth
networks we can strengthen international unity by understanding and respecting
diversity and building platforms for peace and prosperity world-wide. It
is in this spirit of solidarity, that we cherish the valuable partnership and
celebrate Commonwealth Day 2007. Signed:
(Thabo Mbeki)
President
of the Republic of South Africa 09 March 2007 Issued by
Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 - 990 4853 Department of Foreign Affairs
Private
Bag x152
Pretoria 0001 12 March 2007 | 
