The Prime Minister said that this year’s Common-wealth Day was a special occasion for Malta, as current chair-in-office of the Commonwealth.

The theme The Commonwealth – respecting difference, promoting understanding reflected the core values of the Commonwealth as an organisation that promoted respect for diversity and tolerance in accordance with the rule of law, Lawrence Gonzi said in a message marking the day, which fell last Monday.

The Commonwealth family of nations and peoples enables us to address issues of common concern on the basis of shared traditions and experiences in an organisation that cuts across all the continents, he added.

“The fundamental challenges facing humanity today, prompts us to deeply reflect on the importance of building connections between nations and peoples in order to explore ways how to promote mutual understanding and respect among all faiths, cultures and communities.

“This will enable a constructive pre-emptive dialogue between a diversity of beliefs and views. As underlined in the Malta communiqué, the Commonwealth stands as an organisation that promotes tolerance, respect, enlightened moderation and friendship among people of different races, faiths and cultures,” he said.

Following the successful outcome of CHOGM 2005, Malta was now looking forward to the Kampala CHOGM in November. The theme chosen for this CHOGM is Transforming Commonwealth Societies to achieve political, economic and human development.