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Wed, 06 Dec 2023 Today's Paper
Abbot says ' justice tomorrow in SL will be better than today'
15 November 2013 06:25 am - 20 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
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Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott Addressing the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) said that the willingness of Sri Lanka to host CHOGM displayed the country’s commitment to democratic pluralism.He said that those present in the country today are both to praise Sri Lanka and make judgments
“This Country has confronted many troubles. We are here to praise as much as to judge. Justice today is better than yesterday. I’m sure it will be better tomorrow than today,” he said.
Australia was the former Chair of the Commonwealth.
The full speech
Your Royal Highnesses, Mr President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
The Commonwealth spans 53 countries with 30 per cent of the world’s population, 20 per cent of the world's land mass but just 15 per cent of the world's GDP and it's our job to improve that.
The Commonwealth is not a community of power, wealth, geography, religion or language, so much as a community of values.
We believe in democracy based on the rule of law.
We acknowledge Queen Elizabeth as head of the Commonwealth.
We share a legacy of British institutions and influence which all of us have adapted and improved in our own ways.
We are convinced that you don't make new friends by losing old ones. We remain members of the Commonwealth because we believe that this dialogue helps us to come closer to being our best selves.
In Perth two years ago, Commonwealth members collectively agreed to important and timely reforms. We resolved to champion our central values more effectively and we boosted cooperation on important global issues such as food security and sustainable development.
The key achievement, though, was leaders' agreement to develop a Commonwealth Charter. This Charter has since been tabled in many of the parliaments of the Commonwealth including the Australian Parliament.
The Charter expresses our principles and aspirations refined over 60 years of collaboration and development. It gives us a standard to judge our actions.
We also agreed that when the Commonwealth's values are challenged, we should engage earlier and in a spirit of inclusion not isolation.
It's a credit to the leaders and to the delegations present in Perth two years ago that this has been achieved.
Australia is proud to have played its part in the development of the Commonwealth Charter.
During the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, we also considered how we could make the Commonwealth more effective as an organisation. Our Perth declaration on food security principles recognises that half of the world's one billion hungry live in Commonwealth nations.
They are our people and they deserve better.
This will mean improving agricultural productivity and reducing barriers between food producers and markets. It means allowing markets to develop freely and naturally.
Also in Perth, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Trust was launched, honouring Her Majesty's lifetime of duty and service.
This trust has already raised more than £100 million from across the Commonwealth. This will be deployed in the fight against avoidable blindness across the Commonwealth and to support our young leaders.
As the outgoing chair, Australia looks back on the work of the past two years with satisfaction but not complacency, because each achievement sets up the need for the next one.
Australia thanks its Commonwealth friends for their support and help during our term as Chair in Office.
Finally, I acknowledge Sri Lanka as our host and as Commonwealth Chair for the next two years. This country has emerged from many troubles. But with peace has come more freedom and more prosperity - so we are here to praise, as much as to judge.
There are examples in the Commonwealth, in South Africa and Ireland, for instance, where intractable problems have finally responded to the better angels of our nature.
Sri Lanka's willingness to host this Commonwealth shows its commitment to democratic pluralism and freedom based on law and ought to reassure all its citizens that just as today is better than yesterday, tomorrow will be better than today.
My friends, this Commonwealth can make a difference in many corners of the world, for example encouragement and the instinct to find common ground wherever possible, based on shared values.
May these days of discussion foster all our best instincts.
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Comments - 20
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rasika Friday, 15 November 2013 08:47 AM
Well said Sir. That is what we expected from the world as we battered more than 30 years of bloody conflict
Jan A Saturday, 16 November 2013 05:15 AM
Can anyone answer these questions?
Robin Friday, 15 November 2013 02:44 PM
Thank you
Punny Pellow Friday, 15 November 2013 02:10 PM
No wonder they have chosen him. So they can live in peace and mind their own business. Expect high growth in the economy!!
Walston Piyasena Friday, 15 November 2013 11:54 AM
The Australian PM is correct. After 30 years of war against the most ruthless terrorist organisation (LTTE) bankrolled by 90% of diaspora in the western world. These 90% are not victims of the racial disputes which led to the carnage resulting deaths of innocent people both Sinhalese & Tamils are really economic migrants who ceased the opportunity to flee the country.
There is peace now. Now use the might of the western world must help Sri Lanka to educate the people & the politician to eradicate the problems. We have to be patient. Rome was not built in one day. HariDakumaRajasH Friday, 15 November 2013 10:38 AM
you need to justify coming here
simple mind Friday, 15 November 2013 09:47 AM
Check the aus news. They call him the free loader, anything for a foreign trip.
ram Friday, 15 November 2013 09:16 AM
casino money seeks mad burgers says proud to be a Sri Lankan
sujeewa Friday, 15 November 2013 09:08 AM
Long Live PM Abbot. We need leaders like you who understand the poorer nations. What a different leader compared to leaders of north-western hemisphere who are war mongers and imperialists.
Suny J fm Melbourne Friday, 15 November 2013 08:48 AM
I always admire Mr. Abbot when he was the oppotition leader and as the prime minter now....!!
Sukumar Friday, 15 November 2013 06:50 AM
Thanks Mr. PM for seeing things as they are. Unlike your counterpart in UK, you have not tied with diaspora rope!
kumar Friday, 15 November 2013 08:39 AM
You want to please Sri Lanka in order to stop boat people.That's all. Human right violation is second thing.
Chill Friday, 15 November 2013 08:27 AM
How the power of the Packer? Take care of the Aussies and they'll watch out for our interests.
Suranjith Friday, 15 November 2013 08:26 AM
Thank Mr PM of Australia for your thoughts and positive speech
Kanth Friday, 15 November 2013 08:19 AM
So all can commit a crime and move forward without thinking??? Where is the political solution promised to Tamil people during the war?
SAM_SPARROW Friday, 15 November 2013 08:15 AM
But tomorrow is Saturday!
Thusitha Friday, 15 November 2013 08:11 AM
This is our great achievement in the history. Thanks our HE the President for the devotion he made.
Senarath Friday, 15 November 2013 08:03 AM
well said Sir, this is way forward
Kapila Friday, 15 November 2013 07:41 AM
Thanks Australia ! Proud to be a Sri Lankan
Ryan Friday, 15 November 2013 07:14 AM
This is landmark!! proud to be sri lankan
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