SMOOTH GOING FOR MALAYSIAN PM AT COMMONWEALTH SUMMIT DEBUT

FROM MUIN ABDUL MAJID

PORT OF SPAIN (Trinidad and Tobago), Nov 30 (Bernama) -- The
Commonwealth
summit ended here Sunday, with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak declaring
that it is very much a relevant body, able to articulate views of global
importance.

He said the declaration on climate change issued by Commonwealth leaders
present in Port of Spain was an example of how the grouping had risen to the
occasion when what was at stake was the survival of many of its members.

According to him, the grouping of mostly former British-ruled nations had
been playing its role in helping countries in difficulty, not only in bringing
development but also moulding value systems that would anchor the success of a
nation.

"A clear example of this is the move by the Commonwealth to admit Rwanda, a
country ravaged by tribal strife, as its 54th member," he said in his final
press conference with the Malaysian media at the conclusion of the Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2009.

The Commonwealth, observed Najib, was an institution that gave emphasis on
value systems like democracy, rule of law, human rights and so on which were
important towards achieving world peace and prevent the destruction of nations.

"For me, the Commonwealth has been successful in answering its critics who
often question its relevance.

"And it's still relevant," was Najib's verdict of the grouping that
represents one-third of the world's population living in countries big and
small, developed and developing.

The Commonwealth climate change declaration, among others, backs fast start
funding, constituting grant funding, to assist vulnerable nations deal with the
adverse impacts of climate change.

Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, French President Nicholas
Sarkozy and United Nations (UN) secretary-general Ban Ki-moon were also in town
to drum up support for a new climate treaty to be hammered out at the UN
climate change summit in Copenhagen beginning Dec 7.

The Malaysian leader also lauded efforts to convene a summit on
non-communicable ailments such as heart diseases, diabetes and cancer in 2011.

"Many Malaysians too are suffering from these three diseases," said Najib
who also held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina Wajed, who
attempted unsuccessfully to get Malaysia to lift the freeze on the intake of
workers from Bangladesh.

After three days of deliberations following the opening of CHOGM by
England's Queen Elizabeth II on Friday, the Commonwealth heads issued the
CHOGM Communique as well as The Declaration of Port of Spain: Partnering For A
More Equitable And Sustainable Future.

In the latter, the leaders acknowledged that CHOGM took place amid a
debilitating global economic and financial crisis, volatility in key commodity
prices and the alarming impacts of climate change, which threatened the safety
and livelihoods of millions.

"We therefore commit ourselves to deepening the Commonwealth's existing
networks of cooperation and call for a fresh impetus to foster new and more
effective political and economic partnerships," they said.

The Commonwealth heads signalled willingness to collaborate to find ways to
provide immediate help to the poorest and most vulnerable in light of the
global economic and financial crisis.

They underscored the need to address debt problems of middle-income
countries, given the increasing share of government revenue taken by debt
servicing and the implications of social spending.

The leaders called on international financial institutions to provide new
and enhanced funding windows for concessionary financing for middle-income
countries with serious debt burdens.

"We also support the process of reform of international financial
institutions, and call for urgent and comprehensive implementation of
reform that responds to the needs of all countries," they said.

In addition, the Commonwealth heads were for the identification of
mechanisms for financing research to advance the development and adoption of
new technologies.

Member states, they said, should also be assisted to access environmental
development funds managed by the World Bank and UN.
-- BERNAMA