COMMMONWEALTH ON FIJI, SRI LANKA, NIGERIA, QUEEN'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 001385

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2019
TAGS: PREL EAID PHUM PINR NI CE FJ NZ CA MY UK
SUBJECT: COMMMONWEALTH ON FIJI, SRI LANKA, NIGERIA, QUEEN'S
SUCCESSION, AND THE VALUE TO USG OF COMMONWEALTH ENGAGEMENT

REF: LONDON 580

Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) Summary. During a June 11 discussion with Poloff,
Commonwealth Political Director Amitav Banerji offered
electoral commission capacity-building as an area where the
USG and Commonwealth could be strategic partners; said a
Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) would soon
discuss and likely recommend full suspension of Fiji; noted
concern about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka; and
indicated the Commonwealth is keeping a watchful eye on
Nigeria because of the constitutional crisis that could ensue
if President Yar'Adua dies. While noting that it was not
actively being dicussed, Banerji acknowledged that succession
of the Head of the Commonwealth would have to be dealt with
when Queen Elizabeth passes, as there is no rule stipulating
that the British monarch is the head and no procedure for
selecting a new head. End Summary.

USG Engagement
--------------


2. (C) Commonwealth Secretariat Director of Political Affairs
Amitav Banerji reiterated to Poloff Commonwealth SYG Kamalesh
Sharma's desire for "strategic engagement" with the USG on
June 11. Noting the important role of electoral commissions
in conducting credible elections, Banerji said Sharma hopes
to create a network of electoral commissions across the
Commonwealth, whereby newer commissions in fragile
democracies could receive guidance and support from
commissions in more established democracies. He offered this
initiative as an example of where the USG and Commonwealth
have mutual interests and where the USG could use the
Commonweath's technical electoral commission
capacity-building capability and independent, "baggage free"
status to promote democracy abroad.

Fiji
--------------


3. (C) Noting that the Commonwealth had past the deadline set
at the May CMAG meeting to re-consider full suspension of
Fiji (reftel),Banerji said he was very "frustrated" that
CMAG had not yet met to discuss Fiji, especially as the
Commonwealth's credibility could be damaged by not taking a
decision as indicated at the last meeting. He said CMAG had
not met purely for scheduling reasons, and that the
Secretariat hopes to hold the meeting by the end of the
month, though he was not confident it would be possible. He
thought CMAG would move for full suspension of Fiji,
intimating there had been difficult discussions at the
previous CMAG meeting on Fiji with New Zealand pushing hard
for full suspension and Malaysia wanting to ensure that Fiji
did not withdraw from the Commonwealth to pre-empt a full
suspension a la Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka
--------------


4. (C) Banerji said that the human rights situation in Sri
Lanka during and after the recent military offensive had been
raised "informally and off the record" by the UK during the
last CMAG meeting, forcing a difficult conversation with the
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, as Sri Lanka is currently a
member of CMAG. Banerji said the Commonwealth continues to
watch the situation in Sri Lanka and noted that Sri Lanka's
offer to host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting (CHOGM) had been turned down over concerns about
lending international credibility to the Government's actions.

Nigeria
--------------


5. (C) The Commonwealth is also keeping a watchful eye on
Nigeria, Banerji noted, as it is "punching well below its
weight" and President Yar'Adua's sudden death has the
potential to prompt a constitutional crisis. The
Commonwealth would like to see Nigeria more active in the
region and in the Commonwealth across the board. Banerji
noted that Yar'Adua did not make a single intervention at the
last CHOGM, contrasting sharply with former President Obsanjo

LONDON 00001385 002 OF 002


who had been active in Commonwealth affairs.

Succession of the Head of the Commonwealth
--------------


6. (C) Banerji acknowledged that succession of the Head of
the Commonwealth would have to be dealt with when Queen
Elizabeth passes, as there is no rule stipulating that the
British monarch is the head and no procedure for selecting a
new head. He acknowledged that heir-apparent to the British
Crown, Prince Charles, does not "command the same respect" as
the Queen and said the Commonwealth was trying quietly to get
him more involved in Commonwealth affairs. Banerji noted
Marlborough House, the Commonwealth Secretariat's current
location, was a royal property, owned and funded by the
British Royal Family, and mused that may be a factor in the
discussions. He noted that succession was not actively being
discussion within the Commonwealth.


Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom

LeBaron