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Commonwealth vital to Zambia - Scott

Commonwealth vital to Zambia - Scott
By Bright Mukwasa
Wed 06 June 2012, 13:23 CAT

VICE-President Guy Scott says Zambia has every interest in playing an active role in Commonwealth dialogue meant to explore issues of common concern.

Meanwhile, British Airways says it is almost impossible to ignore the existing links between Queen Elizabeth II and the airline throughout her 60 years of reign as head of the British monarchy.

Vice-President Scott, during the Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee celebrations held in Lusaka on Monday night that the Commonwealth was important to Zambia.

"At government level, and through this network of sectoral links, we can meet to explore issues of common concern, and try to come to common views, or at least understand why we differ. Zambia has every interest in playing an active part in such dialogue," Vice-President Scott said.

"The Queen attaches great importance to the Commonwealth. Because of her age, she no longer does long trips overseas. But she has sent members of her family to visit many Commonwealth countries to commemorate her jubilee. I am delighted that we will be hosting Princess Anne here in Zambia later in the year."

He said government was pleased that President Michael Sata had been invited to take part in the celebrations in Britain.

Vice-President Scott said Commonwealth was important to Zambia especially that it was united by belief in democracy and human rights.

"Some are big developed economies, such as the UK and Canada. Others are the powerhouses of the future such as India. Many of the rest are in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world," said Vice-President Scott.

"But Commonwealth is also a network of peoples and groups. The National Assembly of Zambia is an active participant in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. And Livingstone will host the biennial conference of the Royal Agriculture Society of the Commonwealth, of which the Agriculture and Commercial Society of Zambia is an important member."

British High Commissioner James Thornton said the celebration was a befitting tribute to the Queen who had been a symbol of a number of other countries, including Canada, and was head of the Commonwealth, a role she took seriously.

"The Queen has been a symbol of unity for us in the United Kingdom and for the Commonwealth. She has worked hard at her representational functions all her life. Sometimes the monarch has been criticised, but she has refrained from responding. She has a real gift for engaging with people," High Commissioner Thornton said.

He said Queen Elizabeth's virtues had been underpinned by a real religious faith.

"The monarchy has been in existence in England for over a thousand years. It has survived, unlike some many others, by evolving. Once, the monarch was all-powerful, now the UK has a robust Parliamentary democracy. Elizabeth II has in her turn enabled the monarch to go on adapting," said High Commissioner Thornton.

"It is now more informal than it used to be. It combines tradition with modernity, just like the nation of which it is part."

Over a thousand beacons were lit on Monday night, many in the UK, across the globe and another in Kenya in the place where the young Elizabeth was staying when she heard her father had died and that she had ascended to the throne.

The event was attended by senior government officials and diplomats.

And British Airways Zambia commercial manager Beatrice Kamanga stated in a press release in commemoration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee that the airline has had a long-standing connection with Queen Elizabeth even before she ascended to the throne.

"The Queen's association with British European Airways, British Overseas Airways Corporation and British Caledonian Airways - all predecessor airlines of today's British Airways - started while she was still Princess Elizabeth," stated Kamanga.

Labels: COMMON WEALTH, GUY SCOTT, QEII

posted by MrK @ 2:46 PM