Peters Cites Treason And Prepares To Leave For CHOGM - - Foreign Minister Winston Peters this morning accused the New Zealand Herald of treason on Radio New Zealand after its senior writer Fran O'Sullivan criticized his performance at APEC in Busan, Korea. Peters now plans to attend the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting in Malta from 22-24 November. “I am looking forward to my first opportunity to represent New Zealand in the Commonwealth as Foreign Minister... "The Commonwealth is an important part of our culture and history. Today, membership supports our engagement with parts of the world with which we have few other ties," Mr Peters said. See... Scoop Report: Foreign Minister Winston Peters Accuses NZ Herald's Fran O'Sullivan Of Treason

Press Release: Peters to attend Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting and visit United Kingdom

Foreign Minister Winston Peters will attend the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting in Malta from 22-24 November.

“I am looking forward to my first opportunity to represent New Zealand in the Commonwealth as Foreign Minister. The meeting will bring together foreign ministers from 53 Commonwealth countries representing nearly a third of the world’s population.

"The Commonwealth is an important part of our culture and history. Today, membership supports our engagement with parts of the world with which we have few other ties," Mr Peters said.

This will be the first time that foreign ministers meet ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Prime Minister Helen Clark will be attending the CHOGM from 25-27 November.

Foreign ministers will consider the same broad agenda as leaders, including the draft CHOGM communiqué. Foreign ministers will also focus on Commonwealth technical cooperation programmes. Promoting tolerance and combating terrorism are expected to feature as major themes.

Mr Peters then travels to the United Kingdom for meetings in Glasgow, Edinburgh and London. In Scotland he will meet ministers in the Scottish Parliament and promote people-to-people and business links. In London Mr Peters will undertake New Zealand's regular ministerial-level consultations with the Presidency of the European Union, currently held by the UK. He will also meet UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and other ministers, including those with responsibilities for defence, pensions and sport.

“I look forward to meeting Jack Straw and his ministerial colleagues. New Zealand enjoys a very warm and productive relationship with the United Kingdom. I will emphasise New Zealand's commitment to maintaining and strengthening our relations with one of our most important bilateral partners”.

Mr Peters leaves New Zealand on 21 November and returns on 3 December.

ENDS

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