Commonwealth Foreign Ministers met in New York at the end of September on the margins of the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. There, ministers agreed on a draft charter of the Commonwealth, which embraces its fundamental values, principles and aspirations.
The ministers agreed to all the remaining recommendations of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group, aimed at sharpening impact, strengthening networks and raising the Commonwealth’s profile. These recommendations, and the draft charter, will now go to Commonwealth leaders for approval.
The meeting produced traction on developments for a new Strategic Plan for the Commonwealth Secretariat, intended to help the Secretariat focus on its areas of comparative advantage in addressing contemporary challenges. Ministers also agreed on a range of measures to support the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group in its enhanced mandate and the Secretary-General’s ‘Good Offices for Peace’ work.
Ministers were briefed by the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka on preparations for the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in November 2013.
