Commonwealth Development agenda post-2015 should be under UN: India

COLOMBO: India today said the agenda of the Commonwealth Development post-2015 should be brought under the auspices of the United Nations for a transparent, democratic and inclusive approach.

Intervening in the first session of the pre-CHOGM Foreign Ministers' meeting, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the Commonwealth should also support the inter- governmental approach on the subject and make sure it comes out with a truly balanced outcome on the post-2015 development agenda.

He said the priority of the Commonwealth should be a Rio-plus consensus with focus on poverty reduction along with economic growth.

The Rio Declaration consists of 27 principles intended to guide future sustainable development around the world.

The three factors of sustainable development, economic, social and environment, must be kept in mind. But an important factor, India emphasised, is the differentiated responsibilities of the countries under which developed countries will contribute more to the development.

In this context, it was felt that the development agenda can be more ambitious if the rich give financing commitments by mobilising enhanced resources.

Khurshid said the agenda of the Commonwealth Development post-2015 should be brought under the auspices of the United Nations for a transparent, democratic and inclusive approach.

He also said Official Development Assistance (ODA) will remain critical for developing countries.

The livelihood concerns of the poor cannot be compromised for the lifestyle of the rich because of their high consumption, Khurshid said.

The theme of this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), chosen by hosts Sri Lanka, is 'Growth with equity-Inclusive Development' with the majority members of the Commonwealth being small nations and islands facing tough development challenges.

Briefing the media, Navtej Sarna, Additional Secretary (International Organisations), Ministry of External Affairs, said the theme brings development back as the central focus of the Commonwealth.

The Millennium Development Goals agenda of the UN will also be discussed, Sarna said.

He said that at the end of the Summit, that begins on Friday and concludes on Sunday, there will be a 100-para communique covering various issues like sustainable development, environment, climate change, disarmament and human rights.

Asked whether human rights allegations against Sri Lanka during the war against the LTTE would figure in the communique, he said there will be reflections of certain countries on that.