CHOGM: India to oppose rights panel

Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said,“The responsibilities spelt out in this would seem to undermine the role of both the Secretary General and the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) itself which is actually dealing precisely with these issues.”

He said the proposal was a “duplication of what the United Nations is already doing through its rapporteurs and at a time when the organisation was facing budgetary difficulties”. Mathai said he had flagged the issue at a meeting of officials in New York.

“The real focus of the Commonwealth should be on the development challenges which are uppermost on the minds of a vast majority of members. While we support the important values of the rule of law,democracy and human rights,we believe the Commonwealth should focus on strengthening existing institutions rather than create new ones,” he said.

To a question on the rethink on Sri Lanka — in the wake of reports of human rights violations — being allowed to host the CHOGM in 2013,Mathai said,“A decision was taken in 2009 for the next two CHOGMs. That matter has been decided and does not need to be reopened.”

On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s absence at the summit,he cited a string of bilateral visits he has to undertake around the same time.

“The Prime Minister has heavy engagements. In our system,the Vice-President holds a position of great importance. He is second in the warrant of precedence,” he said,adding Ansari has “a vast experience in international relations”.

Ansari will also hold talks with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard during which the issue of uranium exports to India may also come up.