P.M. contributes to Declaration of Durban

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit ended today in Durban, South Africa with fifty-two countries, including Belize, promising to take steps to eliminate poverty and use the forces of globalization for the advancement of their people. The summit, which marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Commonwealth, included a retreat in which the leaders drafted the Declaration of Durban. It denounced the fact that the benefits of globalization are not shared equally and high levels of unemployment and poverty are undermining just and stable societies. The Prime Minister Said Musa asked that Civil Society be given a special place in the development process and his recommendation was incorporated into the final document. The Belize delegation was also active in ensuring that the Declaration of Durban come out strongly in favor of special considerations for more vulnerable nations. The declaration urges the upcoming World Trade Organization Ministerial Meeting in Seattle, Washington to consider differential treatment for small states. At the summit, the Commonwealth Heads elected Don McKinnon of New Zealand Secretary General for a four year term beginning in April. The next summit will be in Australia in the year 2001.