Mr Sharma called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Minister for Health and Sports Dr Kieren Keke. Nauru is currently chair of the 44-strong Alliance of Small Island States.

Discussions covered the challenges faced by small island states, including access to international finance to mitigate the effects of climate change, and how to promote the sustainable development priorities of small island developing states.

The Secretary-General also met with Minister for Finance and Education Roland Kun, as well as Minister for Transport, Telecommunications and ICT Riddell Akua on the transport system in Nauru and the development of infrastructure.

Mr Sharma was also received by President Sprent Dabwido, and called on the Speaker of Parliament Ludwig Scotty and other Members of Parliament.

Media Contact:

Geraldine Goh

Commonwealth Secretariat

Email: g.goh@commonwealth.int

Tel: +44 7894 593 518

12/79 5 November 2012

Commonwealth Secretary-General to visit Kiribati

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma will visit Kiribati from 6 to 8 November 2012. This will be his first official visit to the Pacific island state.

The Secretary-General is scheduled to call on President Anote Tong and other senior cabinet ministers

Mr Sharma is also expected to hold talks with the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Taomati Iuta and Opposition Leader, Hon Tetaua Taitai.

Discussions with Kiribati leaders will revolve around the country’s national development priorities and how the Commonwealth can assist the country in addressing these priorities. Areas of interest include democracy, good governance and public administration, human rights, climate change, gender equality, economic development, debt management, and information and communication technology.

The Secretary-General is expected to brief President Tong and other leaders on progress in implementing an ambitious reform programme aimed at sharpening the impact, strengthening the networks and raising the profile of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is active in the Pacific and globally in pursuing access to climate change finance for small and vulnerable states. This is likely to be a focus of the discussions in Tarawa.

Secretary-General Sharma will also discuss the Pacific Plan, and the role the Commonwealth can play to support the plan’s implementation. He will also discuss with his hosts, how the Commonwealth can assist the region generally through the Commonwealth Pacific Governance Facility and the Commonwealth Youth Programme regional office, both of which are based in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Mr Sharma will also brief leaders on preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka in November 2013, and welcome input from Kiribati in drawing up the agenda for discussions at the biennial summit.

Media Contact:

Geraldine Goh

Commonwealth Secretariat

Email: g.goh@commonwealth.int

Tel: +44 7894 593 518

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“We condemn these cowardly attacks, which have led to large-scale loss of life and critical injuries,” said the Secretary-General, who is on an official visit to Malawi.

“The perpetrators of this despicable crime have shown a callous disregard for the lives of their fellow citizens and for the peace, stability, integrity and progress of their country. I extend my personal condolences and sympathy together with those of the Commonwealth community at large to all those affected by these dreadful attacks. The Commonwealth stands in solidarity with the Government and people of Nigeria as the country grieves its loss, and works to address the challenges of terrorism, extremism and insecurity, manifested in the spate of such attacks in recent years.

“Terrorism is anathema to civilised society,” Mr Sharma stressed. “The Commonwealth’s shared view is that conflict and differences should be resolved, and indeed, can only be resolved sustainably through inclusive dialogue built on the foundations of mutual understanding and respect.”

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“This is a dastardly and atrocious act. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wish casualties a speedy recovery,” said Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma.

The UN and Commonwealth work alongside each other as institutions committed to international respect and understanding. We share many values, including peace, tolerance, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. This outrage is an attack on these values and undermines our efforts to nurture security and international harmony.

We are confident the Government of Nigeria will put every effort into identifying the perpetrators of this heinous crime and to ensure that they are swiftly brought to justice.”

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Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma will lay particular stress on youth employment, underachievement by boys and strengthening economic resilience during his six-day trip to the Caribbean region, 12-17 June 2011.

Mr Sharma is scheduled to visit Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Jamaica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. He will meet Heads of Government, ministers, Speakers and Leaders of the Opposition.

He will also meet representatives of the private sector and young people.

Speaking ahead of his departure Mr Sharma said: “Finding imaginative ways of creating jobs and skills development for the youth is a priority for the Commonwealth. This requires partnership between government and the private sector and the Commonwealth can help build co-operation and collaboration. I’m particularly struck by the positive response in Commonwealth countries to innovative approaches by banks and financial institutions to mainstream youth involvement in the economic life of these countries.

“Mentoring is often what helps young people make themselves more employable or set themselves up independently in professions. Support for youth entrepreneurship not only helps bring opportunities for self-employment, it helps create other new jobs for young people and assets for the society. We need to be alert to the needs both of young men and of young women and help advance their prospects in every possible way.

“My visit is a valuable opportunity to share practical ideas gleaned from some of the work we are already doing. I want to learn more about projects already underway in the Caribbean and to identify the ways in which our Commonwealth partnership can multiply the benefit. We will build on the proposals put forward last month at the Commonwealth Caribbean Conference ‘Investing in Youth Employment’.”

Mr Sharma also commented on opportunities being created by the Commonwealth to strengthen the region’s resilience to natural disasters.  The Commonwealth is working with Caribbean governments in the region to help protect livelihoods and infrastructure from vulnerability to events such as hurricanes

During the Caribbean visit Mr Sharma will call on Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda; Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica; Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica; and Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, to discuss priorities for the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which is scheduled to take place in Perth, Australia in October 2011. He will also brief them on progress on mandates from the last leaders’ meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in 2009, such as the Network of Election Management Bodies and the Commonwealth internet gateway, known as ‘Commonwealth Connects’.

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He also applauded the recent landmark decision of the New Delhi High Court in July 2009, which decriminalised homosexual acts conducted in private by consenting adults. The Secretary-General said this was clear evidence of the judiciary’s commitment to securing human rights for all, on the basis of non-discrimination.

The Secretary-General who delivered the keynote address to hundreds of Commonwealth lawyers, judges and members of civil society at the 17th Commonwealth Law Conference in Hyderabad, said it was a pleasure to be speaking in his own country.

Mr Sharma said the Commonwealth is a Commonwealth of laws and central to that is respect for the rule of law. He however added that the mixture of homegrown ‘customary and religious laws’ has not always addressed the needs of the core Commonwealth constituency of the vulnerable – most notably children, women and others who are disadvantaged.

Religious laws, he said, can sometimes undermine the very values of freedom and tolerance which the Commonwealth holds dear.

Pointing to the Trinidad and Tobago Affirmation of Commonwealth Values and Principles which was adopted in 2009, the Secretary-General said that member countries affirmed that their country’s legislature, executive and judiciary are the guarantors of the rule of law and access to justice. They also declared that an independent judiciary is fundamental to the rule of law and is enhanced by effective, transparent, ethical and accountable governance.

Addressing the theme of the Commonwealth Law Conference, which was ‘Meeting the challenges of emerging economies in keeping the rule of law,’ the Commonwealth Secretary-General stressed that both democracy and development are important to achieving sustainability.

The Secretary-General was accompanied by Akbar Khan, the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Director of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, who also participated on a panel discussing ‘International Courts and Tribunals versus Local Justice Initiatives – the best method of achieving justice?’

The Commonwealth Law Conference is organised by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, an international non-profit association of lawyers from across the Commonwealth.

Its aim is to maintain and promote the rule of law throughout the Commonwealth by ensuring that an independent and efficient legal profession and an independent judiciary, with the highest standards of ethics and integrity, serve the people of the Commonwealth.

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News Release

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, has called on the leaders and people of Nigeria to work together towards a peaceful and credible election which will enjoy the full confidence of all Nigerians and the wider Commonwealth community.

Mr Sharma made this call following the formal release of election dates in January 2011 by the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC). According to INEC’s timetable, National Assembly Elections are due on 15 January, Presidential Elections on 22 January and Gubernatorial Elections on 29 January.

“Nigeria is a valued member of the Commonwealth. It is the Commonwealth’s largest member state in Africa and plays a leading role in a variety of ways in West Africa and beyond. It is therefore in the interest not only of the Nigerian people themselves but also of Africa, the Commonwealth and the international community as a whole that democracy thrives in Nigeria,” Mr Sharma added.

He said INEC would be challenged to conduct elections to the highest expectations without the support of all sections of society. All stakeholders — political parties, civil society, the media and the electorate — had a role to play in entrenching democratic culture and practice in order to achieve this goal.

“The Commonwealth,” Mr Sharma reiterated, “is committed to assisting Nigeria towards achieving the best ever election in its political history.” To this end, he urged all political parties to work together to ensure that the upcoming elections live up to the Commonwealth’s stated democratic values and principles, to which Nigeria strongly subscribes.

Mr Sharma wished INEC, political parties and all other stakeholders all success in their preparations for the elections.

Cathy Price Administrative Assistant Communications & Public Affairs Division   Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 7747 6386    Fax: Direct +44 (0) 20 7004 3771  General: +44 (0) 20 7839 9081 Web: www.thecommonwealth.org Did You Know? The Commonwealth assists countries with international trade, debt, finance, and economic and legal advice.

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The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, has committed the Commonwealth to providing rapid support to implement the changes agreed decisively in the constitutional referendum, which took place in Kenya, on 4 August 2010.

“The referendum is a milestone in Kenya’s history. The people have chosen a path for the future, which offers political stability and a stronger constitutional foundation on which both democracy and development can be advanced,” the Secretary-General said.

“The Commonwealth Secretariat has been in preparatory discussions for some time with the Government of Kenya to identify where Commonwealth assistance would be most beneficial if the referendum was passed. The Commonwealth is ready to begin work to help support the changes for which the people of Kenya have voted.”

The Secretary-General also praised the people of Kenya for the orderly and peaceful conduct of the referendum, and commended the Interim Independent Election Commission (IIEC) for managing the process in a professional, efficient and effective manner.

Cathy Price Administrative Assistant Communications & Public Affairs Division   Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 7747 6386    Fax: Direct +44 (0) 20 7004 3771  General: +44 (0) 20 7839 9081 Web: www.thecommonwealth.org

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Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, today welcomed the positive outcome of the referendum held in Zanzibar on 31 July 2010, which approved the formation of a government of national unity in the country.

Mr Sharma said: “This is a triumph for home-grown solutions which I hope will usher in a new dawn of greater unity among political parties in Zanzibar.”

The Secretary-General congratulated political leaders and the people of Zanzibar for their display of political will and their commitment to the referendum process.

“This landmark development bodes well for the upcoming elections in Tanzania on 31 October 2010,” Mr Sharma added.

The Secretary-General said the Commonwealth stands ready to continue to support Zanzibar in promoting political inclusiveness and building a durable peace and prosperity for the benefit of the people of the Islands.

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