Appendix 7. Commonwealth Statement On Zimbabwe 3/16/2003 The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, issued the following statement in London today. "The Commonwealth Troika, mandated by Heads of Government to deal with the Zimbabwe issue, suspended Zimbabwe from the councils of the Commonwealth on 19 March 2002 for a period of one year. Under the Marlborough House Statement, the issue was to be revisited in twelve months time, 'having regard to progress in Zimbabwe based on the Commonwealth Harare principles and reports from the Commonwealth Secretary-General.' At their subsequent meeting in Abuja on 23 September 2002 the Commonwealth Troika decided to 'see how Zimbabwe responds to the Marlborough House Statement over the next six months as foreshadowed in that Statement, at which point stronger measures might need to be considered.' "Members of the Troika, in reviewing the Zimbabwe issue, agreed that I should undertake wider consultations among Commonwealth governments. Accordingly, over the past few weeks, I have been listening to the views of and discussing the issue with virtually all leaders across the Commonwealth. They have all stated that they wish to see the Commonwealth continue to work together on the issue of Zimbabwe. "Some member governments take the view that it is time to lift Zimbabwe's suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth when the one-year period expires on 19 March 2003. Some others feel that there is no justification for such a step and that there is in fact reason to impose stronger measures. However, the broadly held view is that Heads of Government wish to review matters at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Nigeria in December 2003 and that the suspension of Zimbabwe from the councils of the Commonwealth should remain in place pending discussions on the matter at CHOGM. "I have advised members of the Troika of these views. I have also submitted to them my report as foreshadowed in the Marlborough House Statement. "The members of the Troika have now concluded that the most appropriate approach in the circumstances is for Zimbabwe's suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth to remain in place until Commonwealth Heads of Government address the issue and decide upon a way forward at the CHOGM in December 2003. "I wish to reiterate that Zimbabwe and its people matter to the Commonwealth. All the Heads of Government I have spoken to have urged me to persist with my efforts at engagement with President Mugabe and his government in the context of my good offices role. I intend to do so. "The issue of land reform is at the core of the situation in Zimbabwe and cannot be separated from other issues of concern to the Commonwealth, such as the rule of law, respect for human rights, democracy and the economy. The Commonwealth and the wider international community remain ready to assist the Government of Zimbabwe in addressing this key issue. I once again call on the Zimbabwe Government to re-engage with the Commonwealth and the United Nations Development Programme on the issue of transparent, equitable and sustainable measures for land reform, as agreed at Abuja in 41