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hy the world's media. Following President Mugabe's address of elcome and my own remarks, there will be, as is customary, several speeches in reply. The Session should last approximately
90 minutes.
Since you met last, Namibia has joined the Commonwealth on 21 March 1990 and President Sam Nujoma will be with you at the opening. You should also be welcoming to their first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Prime Minister Nicholas Brathwaite of Grenada, Prime Minister Jim Bolger of New Zealand, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong of Singapore, Prime Minister John Major of Britain, Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh, Chairman of the Military Council of Lesotho Colonel Elias Ramaema, Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao of India, President Teatao Teannaki of Kiribati and Prime Minister Baron Vaea of Tonga.
The formal photograph of Heads of Delegation will precede the Opening Session.
My Reception, designed to afford you the opportunity of meeting representatives of the Zimbabwe and world press, will be held at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 15 October in the Harare Sheraton Hotel.
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ORDER OF AGENDA
Senior Officials will meet on Monday, 14 October at 3.00 p.m. to discuss the Order of Agenda and related administrative and procedural matters, including a timetable for the Meeting. Their Report will be considered by Heads of Government at the beginning of the first Executive Session at 3.00 p.m. on the afternoon of Wednesday 16 October.
The Retreat
The Retreat, which has established itself as a unique and highly creative part of the Meeting, will on this occasion take you to the Elephant Hills Resort at Victoria Falls in the west of Zimbabwe. Traditionally, the Retreat is used for collective discussion of especially important matters and on this occasion much of your time will clearly be devoted to the future role of the Commonwealth. You would wish to take this opportunity for a reflective and frank exchange of views as to the nature of the contribution our association can make.
As you are aware the High-Level Appraisal Group (HLAG) will be meeting in Harare on Tuesday 15 October and will prepare their recommendations which will be distributed by Wednesday 16 October. While these will of course be discussed in Executive Session I would anticipate that significant deliberations, including agreement of a suitable declaration, will take place during the Retreat.
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