A three phase session of Pre-Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Foreign Affairs Meeting preparing for the main CHOGM came to an end on Thursday.

In this meeting Lesotho was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Mohlabi Tsekoa.

The meeting discussed different areas of concern to the commonwealth nations and made suggestions and recommendations to be tabled before the Heads of states and governments.

Speaking at the press briefing on Thursday night, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Uganda Mr. Sam Mutesa said they included political issues, commonwealth trade and economic relations, climate change and the implementation of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) strategies.

He said the issue of MDGs is a concern as some commonwealth nations fail to implement the MDGs strategies hence the need to discuss it with a view to provide assistance to such nations.

Describing the MDGs, Mr. Muteka said the MDGs produced a much-needed focus on human development, which he said is a cornerstone of peace, democracy and economic growth.

The MDGs include a commitment to achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health and combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases by 2015.

The Secretary General of Commonwealth Mr. Don MacKinnon raised concern over the representation of commonwealth nations in the summit, which he said has dropped from 53 to 48.

He attributed this to domestic political issues, which he said have prevented other commonwealth nations to attend the CHOGM.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister Mr. Pakilitha Mosisili arrived in Kampala Uganda on Thursday midnight. He was welcomed at Entebbe Airport by the Lesotho delegation that included Mr. Mohlabi Tsekoa.

Source: LENA 23/11/2007