In the context
of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held in Colombo Sri Lanka,
on 15-17 November 2013, it was decided that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Cyprus will participate in the Commonwealth Ministerial Action
Group (CMAG).
The Action Group
is composed by the Foreign Ministers of nine Commonwealth member states,
appointed by rotation for a period of two years, through a decision taken at each
CHOGM. Apart from Cyprus, the other members of the Action Group are Guyana,
India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Tanzania and Sri
Lanka.
CMAG was created
in 1995 to supervise the commitment of Member States to the political
principles of the Commonwealth such as democracy, rule of law, respect of human
rights etc. The Action Group operates as an executive instrument with extensive
powers and the capability of adopting measures, including even the expulsion of
a Member of the Commonwealth for as long as these principles are being violated.
The Group
usually meets twice a year, including its meeting on the sidelines of the
General Assembly of the United Nations, and it may also meet whenever it deems
appropriate depending on the developments in relation to the countries that are
being monitored.
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