Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday returned here after representing Pakistan at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held at Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago from November 27-29. The Foreign Minister earlier participated in the pre-CHOGM Commonwealth Foreign Ministers meeting at Port of Spain from 25-26 November 2009.
Qureshi in his address before the heads of government reaffirmed Pakistan's abiding commitment to the Commonwealth's core values including democracy, human rights, tolerance, respect and understanding and rule of law. He mentioned Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan was among the eight leaders who had signed the London Declaration of 1949 establishing the modern Commonwealth.
The Foreign Minister thanked the Commonwealth for its support to Pakistani people's struggle for the restoration of democracy. He presented Pakistan's viewpoint on the CHOGM's special theme 'Partnering for an equitable and sustainable future', and other issues of importance to Commonwealth including world economic situation, reform of international institutions, development, youth, and climate change. The CHOGM approved Pakistan's proposal for the holding of a biennial "Commonwealth Cultural Festival".
The proposal envisages a festival in a Commonwealth country chosen by consensus where artistes could present their diverse art. Pakistan did not participate in the last CHOGM at Kampala, Uganda in 2007 as its Commonwealth membership was suspended due to the state of emergency imposed in November 2007.
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