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Commonwealth must commit to serving a new generation – Zuma

Commonwealth must commit to serving a new generation – Zuma
By Larry Moonze in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Mon 30 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT

SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma has said deepening poverty, global economic crisis and climate change directly tests the notion of the globalised world.

Addressing the Commonwealth Heads of Government dinner hosted by Queen Elizabeth II on Friday evening at Hyatt Regency Hotel, President Zuma said at 60 years the Commonwealth must commit to serving a new generation.

"I am most honoured and privileged to be able to address Her Majesty and other dignitaries this evening.

What makes this meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government distinctive is that it takes place in the year of the 60th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth," he said.

"It also takes place at a time when the world is faced with two challenges that very directly test the notion of the globalised world and its interpretation. In addition to a global economic crisis and climate change, the world is faced with a widening of the gap between rich and poor, and deepening poverty among the majority."

President Zuma said the Commonwealth was an organisation with a rich history and a worthy heritage.

He said over the course of six decades it had shown itself to be a family of nations committed to the betterment of humanity.

"Yet, while the ties that bind us are rooted in history, the value of the Commonwealth lies in the future," President Zuma said.

"The Commonwealth is composed of a quarter of the world's countries, a third of its population, a fifth of its trade, some of the richest and some of the poorest countries, some of the largest countries and some of the smallest."

He said as the countries of the world became increasingly interdependent the value of an organisation like the Commonwealth became even greater.

President Zuma said the Commonwealth provided an opportunity to build consensus beyond its membership on responses to the challenges facing the globe.

He said consensus building beyond its borders had become more urgent than at any other time in the Commonwealth history.

"As we celebrate 60 years it is appropriate that we commit ourselves to serving a new generation," President Zuma said.

He said the Commonwealth must therefore continue to strive to ensure the youth were able to determine their own future.

"As we look to the needs of a new generation we will hold fast to the principles and values that have characterised our organisation," said President Zuma. "We will hold fast to the vision of the better world we seek to build."

Labels: COMMON WEALTH, JACOB ZUMA

posted by MrK @ 4:24 AM