AUSTRALIA TO HOST 2011 COMMONWEALTH LAW MINISTERS MEETING

KUCHING (Malaysia), Dec 21 (Bernama) -- Australia will host the next
Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, in Canberra in 2011, Commonwealth
Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma said Sunday.

He said he was delighted that Australia had agreed to host the triennial
meeting of the first law officers of the Commonwealth, which provides a special
opportunity to reflect on the concrete steps being taken towards realising
common commitments to achieving peace and justice.

"It also reaffirms the enormous importance that respect for the rule of law
plays in securing these goals, including through the strengthening of our
democratic institutions.

"It also helps define areas where our work in capacity and institution
building can be strengthened. We can help set the agenda for deepening our
collective work in promoting and strengthening the rule of law, and reinforcing
our shared legal heritage,” he said in a statement released by the Commonwealth
Secretariat and emailed to Bernama here.

Meanwhile, Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland said Australia was
proud to host the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting on behalf of the region.


"This is the first time that this country has hosted the meeting, and I look
forward to working with my colleagues to identify and resolve issues of common
concern,” he said.

He said the forum would also provide an important opportunity for Australia
to continue its regional and international advocacy on important law and justice
issues.

The last Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting was held in Scotland, United
Kingdom, in July 2008.

-- BERNAMA