Commonwealth Conference

Mana (Auckland), Volume 2, Issue 1, 6 April 1978, Page 7

Commonwealth Conference

The Commonwealth has a “collective responsibility” to give special assistance to the small states of the Commonwealth, particularly Pacific nations. Pacific and Asian Commonwealth heads of government believe.

The heads of government of Australia, Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua Mew Guinea, Singapore, Sir Lanka, Tonga and Western Samoa reviewed the outcome of a three day regional meeting in Sydney, in an 11

page communique. Of particular interest to Western Samoa was section 41 dealing with the special problems of small states. “Heads of government recognised that special measures and relationships were necessary to assist small states to realise their development potential.” The communique welcomed the establishment of the Pacific Forum Line. It also noted the important development role played by airlines in the region “and the need to sustain these

services economically.’’ The developed and industrially advanced countries of the Asia-Pacific region agreed to find ways of providing finance to develop technical and professional skills and to provide technical assistance for small states to derive maximum advantages from the 320 kilometre exclusive economic zones. The communique also carried an undertaking from the larger countries to provide favourable conditions of access to markets.