Commonwealth post causes deadlock

Press, 31 August 1989, Page 4

Commonwealth post causes deadlock

By

TONY VERDON

in London

The Commonwealth is deadlocked on the selection of a successor to Sir Shridath Ramphal as Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral. So divided have the 48 Commonwealth nations become on the issue, that there are hints in London that he might have to be drafted for a short fourth term in what is considered one of the most prestigious of international diplomatic posts. The early favourite to succeed Sir Shridath Ramphal, whose third five-year term will expire later this year, was the former Australian Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Fraser.

Now diplomatic sources in London say his rival, the present Deputy Secre-tary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Eleazar Chukwuemeka ‘Emeka‘ Anyaoku, of Nigeria, has edged ahead of his Australian rival in the contest.

Whoever gets the job will become only the Commonwealth’s third secretary-general.

The choice of candidate has been as difficult for New Zealand as for any

of the Commonwealth nations — Mr Fraser is being given strong backing by his successor as Australian Prime Minister, Mr Bob Hawke. But with the Commonwealth Games approaching, the Government will have been just as anxious not to upset relations with Black African countries, who generally support Chief Anyaoku.

The successful candidate will emerge through the usual Commonwealth process of consensus — in other words through secret corridor diplomacy, and should be resolved before the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kuala Lumpur in just under two months time.

The Queen, who has no influence on the decision, is said to be looking on apprehensively. According to “The Daily Mail” veteran diplomatic correspondent, John Dickie, the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, has not hidden her desire to have a change at Marlborough House.

After 14 years as Commonwealth secretary-gen-eral, Sir Shridath is, says Dickie, virtually persona

non grata in Downing Street. Relations between Sir Shridath and Mrs Thatcher have been strained by the issue of sanctions against South Africa, which he supports and she opposes.

Mrs Thatcher is understood to be unhappy also with the two contenders short-listed for the position.

She is said to have long memories of clashes with Mr Fraser during his term as Prime Minister, between 1975 and 1983. At the same time the vigorous promotion of Chief Anyaoku by Nigeria’s President Babangida has failed to make him a runaway candidate.

This is said to be in spite of his impeccable record as a man of boundless discretion and sophisticated good manners. Although the Nigerians have said it is high time an African held a top international post, not all the member states from Africa have openly backed Chief Anyaoku.

Some leaders have reservations about whether he has the dynamism and charisma to put the Commonwealth across to the rest of the world.