Abuja, Nigeria — Commonwealth
leaders ended their four-day summit expressing hope Zimbabwe would soon
rejoin the 53-nation body, but there was no hiding the fact that the group
has been deeply bruised by the racial cleavage that emerged over the
regime of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
Mr. Mugabe stole the limelight Sunday night when he decided to pull
Zimbabwe out of the Commonwealth to protest against the leaders' decision
to continue the suspension of his country from the body for repeated
violations of the Commonwealth's democratic ideals and human-rights
principles.
Mozambican President Joachim Chissano expressed bitterness at the
outcome, accusing his fellow leaders of railroading the body to continue
the suspension.
"This heads of government meeting did not come to any consensus to
suspend Zimbabwe," Mr. Chissano said.
"It's all undemocratically done."
It was a version of events contested by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien,
who said that Mr. Chissano was in the room when a six-nation committee
agreed to a compromise text on Sunday.
Mr. Chissano defended Mr. Mugabe as a champion of human rights and said
that outsiders should be careful before judging onetime colonies such as
Zimbabwe.
"We are not destroying any democracy that existed. We are taking power
from societies which were ruled by fascists, by abject racialist
governments," he said.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who was firmest in insisting
that Zimbabwe remain suspended, yesterday called it regrettable that
Zimbabwe had decided to quit, but said it could return to the fold
eventually. His real concern is the people of Zimbabwe. "They are
suffering greatly," Mr. Howard said. "What is needed to improve their
welfare should be our dominant consideration."
Although issues such as trade and development were discussed, Zimbabwe
dominated the talks as allies of Mr. Mugabe, led by South Africa and
Mozambique, clashed with his severest critics, Australia and Britain.
South African President Thabo Mbeki did not offer reaction to
Zimbabwe's withdrawal, saying only that like-minded African leaders would
issue a joint statement.
Mr. Chrétien, attending his final international summit as Prime
Minister, took a philosophical approach to the outcome.
"If they pull out, they pull out," he told reporters, saying he hoped
that efforts will continue to build national reconciliation in Zimbabwe
between Mr. Mugabe and his opponents and secure its eventual return to the
Commonwealth. "We will try and normalize the situation as quickly as
possible."
Asked why neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Mozambique
defend Mr. Mugabe, Mr. Chrétien said that they continue to see him as "a
symbol for them," referring to his role in the liberation struggle against
white rule in the former Rhodesia.
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who chaired the meeting, said he
would leave "no stone unturned" in his quest to see Zimbabwe return to the
Commonwealth and planned to send an envoy to Zimbabwe before Christmas to
try to kick start discussions with Mr. Mugabe.
He was sharply critical of both Australia and South Africa for taking
"hard-line" positions on the Zimbabwe issue during the past year, which he
said had made it more difficult for a solution to emerge.
But Mr. Obasanjo had only kind words for Mr. Chrétien, calling him a
"voice of reason in the Commonwealth" and telling his fellow leaders that
the Canadian's "place will be difficult to fill."
As a sign of respect, Mr. Obasanjo himself accompanied Mr. Chrétien on
the 30-minute drive to Abuja airport and was there for his departure to
Paris, where the Prime Minister will be feted by French President Jacques
Chirac at a gala farewell dinner tonight and attend the opening of an
exhibit on Canada marking the 400th anniversary of the first settlement in
North America.
