By NNN-Bernama,
Kuala Lumpur : Pakistan has been restored to the Councils of the Commonwealth, with immediate effect, according to a statement issued by Malaysia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry here Tuesday.
Pakistan was reinstated during the 29th meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) chaired by Malaysian Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London on May 12, the statement said.
“The meeting, following the nation’s positive steps to fulfil its obligations in accordance with Commonwealth fundamental values and principles, decided that Pakistan is now restored to the Councils of the Commonwealth, with immediate effect,” it added.
The meeting also urged Commonwealth members, the Pacific Islands Forum, the United Nations and the wider international community to ensure that the interim Government of Fiji held firm to the scheduled March 2009 elections.
The CMAG decided to retain Fiji on its agenda while the next CMAG meeting would be held at the margins of UN General Assembly on Sept 27, 2008 in New York.
In London, Rais also called on British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband and discussed issues of importance to both Malaysia and Britain. He also met 24 heads of Malaysian diplomatic missions from the European region at the Malaysian High Commission (embassy) in London.
Rais was in London for a working visit from May 11 to 13.