Talks Underway to Reschedule CHOGM - CHOGM Task Force

Publication date: 28/09/01

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, will meet Australian Prime Minister John Howard on 2 October in Sydney to discuss plans to reschedule the postponed Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

"Prime Minister Howard and I are both keen that CHOGM should take place early next year. I know that all Commonwealth leaders are disappointed that their meeting was postponed and want to seek an early opportunity to get together," Mr McKinnon said.

He will meet with officials of the Australian organising team for CHOGM to thank them for the enormous effort they put into arrangements for the meeting.

He will also visit the Commonwealth People's Centre and Festival in Brisbane, which brings together a large number of civil society groups from around the Commonwealth. "I am delighted that the People's Centre has decided to go ahead even though CHOGM has been postponed," Mr McKinnon said. "I hope that the people of Brisbane will avail themselves of this opportunity to see the exciting work being done by the large family of Commonwealth organisations."

Mr Colin Ball, Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, which is co-ordinating the People's Centre and Festival, welcomed the Secretary-General's decision to visit, saying it would be a morale booster for the non-governmental sector.

Mr McKinnon also hopes to visit the Commonwealth Youth Forum, which is meeting on the Gold Coast.

01/63 28 September 2001