Foreign AffairsLetter from the Rt Hon William Hague First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

Thank you for your letter of 14 May about the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo.

You raise a number of questions on how the decision to hold CHOGM in Colombo was taken and what process existed to challenge this decision.

The Commonwealth is a consensus based organisation. The decision to hold CHOGM in Sri Lanka in 2013 was taken at the 2009 Port of Spain CHOGM, where Sri Lanka’s offer to host CHOGM was discussed by Foreign Ministers before being referred to Commonwealth Heads to decide. All Commonwealth Heads agreed a package that included Australia’s bid to host in 2011 and Mauritius in 2015.

Sri Lanka had originally offered to host in 2011, something the UK and a number of likeminded governments did not support due to concerns over the political and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka, including lack of access to IDP camps. The UK therefore strongly supported Australia’s offer to host CHOGM in 2011.

When the issue of hosts for 2013 and 2015 was raised in the 2011 CHOGM in Perth there was no consensus amongst member states to revisit the decision made in Port of Spain for Sri Lanka to host CHOGM in 2013. We must now work within the confines of the situation to do the best we can to make a difference at CHOGM.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is responsible for identifying the venue for CHOGM and it is for Commonwealth Heads to agree to either support or oppose the proposals. The UK made clear to the Secretary-General and Sri Lanka prior to and during the 2009 CHOGM in Port of Spain that we would be unable to support Sri Lanka’s bid to host in 2011. We are not aware of the Secretariat receiving any bids from other Commonwealth members to host CHOGM in either 2011 or 2013, with the exception of Australia.

Commonwealth Heads did not make their acceptance of the 2009 decision to hold CHOGM in Sri Lanka in 2013 conditional on specified improvements in standards of human rights in Sri Lanka. However, we have been clear that the host for CHOGM should demonstrably embody our shared Commonwealth values. We continue to urge Sri Lanka to make progress in implementing the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations, which Sri Lanka set up in 2010; hold free and fair Northern Provincial Council elections in September; and allow unrestricted freedom of movement for Commonwealth Heads, media and non-governmental organisations attending CHOGM in November.

We will continue to seek opportunities, bilaterally and in other multilateral fora, to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to uphold Commonwealth values, and we will not hesitate to highlight any negative developments or lack of progress against Sri Lanka’s commitments both before and during CHOGM. If Sri Lanka does not make demonstrable progress they will clearly face increasing international concern and criticism, as we have already seen through increased support for the 2013 UN Human Rights Council resolution compared to 2012.

I can assure you and members of the Foreign Affairs Committee that this is not a decision that the Prime Minister and I have taken lightly. We have carefully considered the arguments both for and against our attendance. We share the FAC’s wish to see substantial and sustainable improvements in human rights in Sri Lanka, but we do not believe this will be achieved through the UK choosing to boycott CHOGM. I see CHOGM as an opportunity to highlight the need for effective commitment to the shared values and human rights for which the Commonwealth stands and the Prime Minister and I fully intend to exploit this opportunity. I also plan to meet with a range of interlocutors in country and see for ourselves the situation on the ground. I will encourage others attendees to do the same and make clear to the Government of Sri Lanka the need for free access and travel for civil society, media and visiting delegations.

The Government is a strong supporter of the Commonwealth and we firmly believe that it can continue to be a force for good around the world, promoting its core values. This should not be overshadowed by the location of CHOGM in Sri Lanka.

30 June 2013