Kikwete, Commonwealth chief Sharma hold talks

A State House press statement said the two leaders` talks dwelt on
various issues pertaining to bilateral relations between the
Commonwealth and Tanzania, as well as others of international interest.

Sharma, who arrived in the country from neighbouring Kenya, thanked
President Kikwete for his contribution to the Commonwealth Heads of
State Committee which discussed and gave directives on how the Club
would transform its current system of international institutions,
including the financial ones. President Kikwete was a member to the
committee.

The two leaders also discussed the ways the Commonwealth would
contribute to the ongoing challenges facing the world including
environmental challenges, energy and food security as well as the
global financial crisis.

Sharma told President Kikwete that at this year`s Commonwealth heads of
state and government summit, discussion would dwell on environmental
issues and how countries would get involved in the fight against those
problems.

He said the prevailing global economic crunch would also be extensively discussed at the summit.

Sharma also had wanted to know developments on reconciliation talks
between Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and Civic United Front (CUF) as well
as the general political situation in the Isles.

In his response, President Kikwete told his visitor that the two rival
parties had mutually agreed on most of the important issues.

Kikwete said differences between them had already been sorted out,
adding that what remained was how to implement the agreed terms in the
reconciliation accord.

The two leaders also discussed how the Commonwealth Youth Programme
should be implemented so that youths can be easily seen in the
international sphere.

They also discussed how the Commonwealth`s 60th anniversary would be marked on April 27, this year.

President Kikwete also advised Sharma about what should be done to
restore political stability in Zimbabwe after forming a power-sharing
government.

GUARDIAN