Commonwealth talks

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33985, 28 October 1975, Page 17

Commonwealth talks

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW DELHI. October 27

World security and the energy crisis will be key topics when 300 delegates from 30 countries which were once part of the old British Empire begin the twenty-first Commonwealth Parliamentarians’ Conference in New Delhi tomorrow.

It will be the first important conference to be held in India, since the Government imposed a state of emergency on June 26, and imprisoned many prominent Opposition leaders. Topping the agenda at the week-long meeting of legislators and officials, will be the question of the Commonwealth and World security.

[with specific reference to th Indian Ocean, South-Ea-|Asia, Africa, and the Medit erranean.

I This discussion will be fol lowed by debates on th” world energy crisis and attempts to build a new international economic order. The Indian President (M• Fakhruddin) will open th” )conference in the Central )Hall of Parliament, when India's independence was proclaimed. Other speakers at the opening session will be the Prime Minister (Mr-, Gandhi) and Mr Sridath Ramphal, the Guyanese Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral.

The conference will also provide an opportunity for the formal opening ceremony of India’s new Parliament House annexe, built at a cost of more than 37 million rupees (more than $3.5m).