Watershed in Auckland.When the Commonwealth heads of government met in Auckland, New Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. , last November, two issues dominated the headlines. The media had reduced them to `Nukes and Nigeria'. Both subjects were controversial and emotive, and both involved Commonwealth countries. The credibility of the organization was at stake. Shortly before coming to Auckland, the British Prime Minister John Major had entertained the French President Jacques Chirac and made a strong statement in support of France's right to carry out nuclear tests
The Commonwealth heads of government confronted this thorny issue on their first day of talks. It quickly became clear that the British government were not going to change their view, and after various points had been made, proceedings moved on to other subjects. On Nigeria, however, the Commonwealth managed to take more decisive action. When, in spite of international pleas for clemency Leniency or mercy. A power given to a public official, such as a governor or the president, to in some way lower or moderate the harshness of punishment imposed upon a prisoner. Clemency is considered to be an act of grace. , Nigeria's military government executed Ken Saro-Wiwa Kenule "Ken" Beeson Saro-Wiwa (October 10, 1941 – November 10, 1995) was a Nigerian author, television producer, and environmentalist. He was the son of Chief Jim Wiwa. and eight other Ogoni activists, even those who had favoured the path of quiet mediation felt stronger action was needed. Only Gambia dissented from the heads of governments' decision to suspend Nigeria from membership of the Commonwealth. For the city of Auckland, and New Zealanders This is a list of well-known people associated with New Zealand. Art A
Some boys are playing with a ball, in Lincoln. They accidentally throw it over the wall of a Jew's house (or castle). The daughter of the Jew comes out, dressed in green, and beckons to a boy to come in to fetch it. Kawharu, stepped forward and in a speech of greeting of only five sentences went to the heart of the matter. `Ladies and Gentlemen,' he said, `may I on behalf of Maori people welcome you to this city, which stands on land gifted by my ancestors to the Crown in 1840 in exchange for the benefits of Western civilization Noun 1. Western civilization - the modern culture of western Europe and North America; "when Ghandi was asked what he thought of Western civilization he said he thought it would be a good idea" Western culture . Some of us are continuing to debate those benefits. But the point is that we are free to do so. Indeed we believe that no good will come from any human endeavour that is not based on honest talk and spiritual guidance. And so we welcome you and wish you well.' The return of South Africa after 34 years--represented by Nelson Mandela--ensured that this would be an historic gathering. The other newcomer from Africa was President Biya of Cameroon. During the meeting the leaders and their spouses, accompanied by one member of their staff each, retired to the South Island resort of Millbrook, a region of mountains and lakes. Normally this retreat provides a chance to reflect on longer term issues. This time it was devoted to deciding a response to events in Nigeria. The heads of government returned with the Millbrook Action Programme, which spelled out the Commonwealth's values and principles more clearly than ever before. It committed the Commonwealth Secretariat to providing training and assistance in a range of constitutional, electoral, judicial and parliamentary practices to countries seeking to achieve democracy. The Millbrook Programme set up a Ministerial Action Group of foreign ministers from eight countries to take `appropriate steps' in response to the overthrow of democratically elected governments There is some question as to whether a given election is "democratic" and whether the regime resulting from a given election is a "democracy". Proponents and opponents of certain regimes wrangle over whether the government was "democratically elected", particularly when another country and other violations of democratic principles. These included expressions of collective disapproval, bilateral approaches, action by the Secretary-General, exclusion from ministerial meetings and the ending of other government-to-government contacts. This was the context for Nigeria's suspension. The programme represents a watershed, and sets the Commonwealth apart from most other international organizations in that it is prepared, where necessary, to intervene in the internal affairs of its member countries. `The UN couldn't do it,' says Anyaoku. `The OAU OAU abbr. Organization of African Unity OAU n abbr (= Organization of African Unity) → OUA f OAU n abbr (= Organization of African Unity (Organization of African Unity Organization of African Unity (OAU), former international organization, established 1963 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by 37 independent African nations to promote unity and development; defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of members; eradicate all forms of ) couldn't do it. They couldn't suspend membership nor criticize in a very serious way.' At Auckland, he asserts, the Commonwealth took a `gigantic leap' in terms of its effectiveness. |
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