The Hindu : PM to attend CHOGM summit

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 03, 2003

Front Page

Front Page

PM to attend CHOGM summit

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI DEC. 2. The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, will attend the summit of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) at Abuja (Nigeria) from December 4 to 7. However, his bilateral visit to Ghana after the summit has been dropped "because of Parliamentary preoccupations back in New Delhi.''

The new Foreign Secretary, Shashank, told presspersons here today that the Prime Minister had decided to attend the summit because of "India's deep commitment to the Commonwealth" and the fact that India is its largest member and the fourth biggest financial contributor.

On the agenda is the consideration of a report by a high-level group of internationally-renowned economists on "Making democracy work for pro-poor development.'' The high-level group is headed by the former Finance Minister, Manmohan Singh, and, apart from other economists, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are also associated.

On the possibility of lifting Pakistan's suspension from the Commonwealth, Mr. Shashank said the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which worked on the basis of consensus, would decide the matter. However, he said the Commonwealth had taken note of the fact that because of the Legal Framework Order in Pakistan, its Parliament remained deadlocked.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News Update

Stories in this Section

Mizo National Front back in power

Gorshkov deal not finalised: Russia

PM to attend CHOGM summit

Opposition plans offensive on Judev, PSUs issues

More castes added to Central OBC lists

ACP held in fake stamp case

Lakhubhai case verdict

Saddam's deputy `killed'

30 killed in bus accident

DPC restart