The Hindu : Front Page : Kamalesh C’wealth Secretary-General

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 25, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Kamalesh C’wealth Secretary-General

Harish Khare

Consensus in favour of Indian candidate

Kamalesh Sharma

Kampala (Uganda): Kamalesh Sharma of India was on Saturday elected Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. The “election” — officially described as selection — was announced after the Commonwealth Heads of Government reached consensus in favour of Mr. Sharma on the second day of the summit here.

Mr. Sharma’s election was described as “unanimous,” but Indian officials informally said that the “vote” was five to one for him. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed his delight and said the selection was a recognition of Mr. Sharma’s “long record of public service in the international community” and of his “inclusive vision of the Commonwealth.”

Mr. Sharma’s election is considered a tribute to the high respect Dr. Singh and India enjoy in the global community.

The election of Mr. Sharma, who is currently Indian High Commissioner in London, has come as a big relief to Indian diplomacy after the disappointment over the failure to get Shashi Tharoor elected United Nations Secretary-General.

After his election, Mr. Sharma visited the Indian media centre for journalists accompanying the Prime Minister. He expressed happiness that the Commonwealth Heads of Government thought that the organisation would be “in safe hands.”

He said the time had come for the Commonwealth to make a contribution to the 21st century, especially in negotiating the “opportunities and threats of globalisation.”

Given the Commonwealth’s representative character, according to Mr. Sharma, how the organisation harnesses its collective energies could become a “template” for what is achievable globally. He hopes to enhance the “quality of advocacy” in negotiating difficulties inherent in globalisation.

Stressing the “collegiate and consensual” style of functioning whereby “a convergence of views is achieved through dialogue,” Mr. Sharma said it would be his endeavour to harmonise different approaches, particularly in three areas — development and growth, good governance and cooperation in the social sector. Though the attention and interest of the Indian delegation was focussed mostly on getting Mr. Sharma elected, the presence of Dr. Singh in Uganda was used to renew India-Africa ties.

Mr. Anand Sharma, Minister of State for External Affairs, told journalists that an India-Africa summit was scheduled for early 2008.

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

Front Page