THE Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) ended in Perth, Australia, yesterday, agreeing to a new set of reforms and new commitments on food security, child vaccinations and climate change.But the well-organised and attended ceremony was marred towards the end by the killing of three Australian soldiers serving with the International Security Assistance Force and the grounding of the entire fleet of the Australian national carrier, Qantas, leaving hundreds of world leaders and delegates attending the CHOGM conference without a way home.The grounding of the entire fleet has been 'extremely embarrassing' for the government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. As at Saturday night, 17 Commonwealth leaders who booked Qantas flights were stranded in Perth, though the Australian government says it is working with the delegates to get them home.British Prime Minister David Cameron left yesterday morning on his own government jet. President Goodluck Jonathan also left yesterday afternoon on his official aircraft, NAF 001 of the Presidential Air Fleet. Prime Minister Gillard left Perth yesterday afternoon on her own government jet, ahead of parliament sitting in Canberra today.Though the reforms failed to meet the expectations of those who wanted the establishment of a Commonwealth human rights watchdog ' Office of the Commissioner for Democracy, the Rule of Law and Human Rights ' the leaders agreed to 'reform of the Commonwealth to ensure that it is a more effective institution, responsive to members' needs, and capable of tackling the significant global challenges of the 21st Century.'The creation of the office was a key recommendation of a 10-member Commonwealth-appointed Eminent Persons Group.Other issues endorsed by the leaders of the 54 member-nations include:' To actively promote, uphold, preserve and defend the fundamental values, principles and aspirations of the Commonwealth;' revitalising the Commonwealth's development priorities to ensure it effectively articulates and meets the development needs of member-states today and in the future;' to this end, heads of government with global partners will work together to secure the global economic recovery and ensure a stronger, more sustainable and balanced global economic system that will benefit all Commonwealth countries;' providing a greater voice and more effective role for youth in the Commonwealth, who represent over 50 per cent of the Commonwealth population;' maintaining their commitment to a stable and secure national and international environment, as a foundation for sustainable growth and resilience for Commonwealth countries and the broader international community;' combating people smuggling and human trafficking by clamping down on illicit criminal organisations and bringing the perpetrators of these crimes to justice, while protecting and supporting the victims of trafficking; and' to promote the future of the Commonwealth through the strong and important voice of its people.The leaders also re-affirmed 'previous CHOGM Communiques on Cyprus and express full support for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus and the efforts of the leaders of the two communities, under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General's Good Offices Mission, to bring about a comprehensive Cyprus settlement, based on the UN Charter and the relevant UNSCRs for a State of Cyprus with a single sovereignty, single international personality and a single citizenship, in a bi-communal, bizonal federation with political equality as described in the relevant UNSCRs.'It also welcomed the interest shown by the Government of South Sudan in joining the Commonwealth, requesting the Commonwealth Secretariat to pursue the established procedures in this regard.The leaders said they looked forward to the conditions being created for the return of Zimbabwe to the Commonwealth, encouraging the parties to implement the Global Political Agreement faithfully and effectively.Ahead of the Diamond Jubilee of the Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II in 2012, the Commonwealth leaders congratulated her while welcoming the 'proposed Commonwealth initiatives to mark this historic occasion, in particular the establishment of a Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, which would be funded by private donations and voluntary contributions from governments. This will support charitable projects and organisations across the Commonwealth, focusing on areas such as tackling curable diseases, the promotion of all forms of education and culture and other Commonwealth priorities.'The meeting also endorsed the re-appointment of Mr. Kamalesh Sharma as Commonwealth Secretary-General for a further four-year term starting April 2012.And despite the reservation of some critics of Sri Lanka who wanted it denied the hosting of next CHOGM, the meeting re-affirmed 'their decisions to meet next in Sri Lanka in 2013 and thereafter in Mauritius in 2015, as well as to welcome the offer by Malaysia to host the 2019 CHOGM.
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