UK agrees to time-bound talks on slave trade harms
Commonwealth leaders in Antigua confirm the British government will engage in structured dialogue, with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband suggesting conclusions may be reached within a year.
By Mei Lin ·
The United Kingdom has formally committed to holding structured and time-bound discussions regarding the historical harms of the transatlantic slave trade. Commonwealth leaders confirmed this agreement in a joint communiqué issued at the end of their meeting in Antigua.
The 18-page document welcomes the UK government's decision to engage in good-faith dialogue with affected parties. The talks will address the trafficking of enslaved Africans and the lasting impacts of that history. This commitment follows statements by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who opened the door to a formal apology for the UK's role in the trade while ruling out financial reparations.
Government officials have not yet fixed a specific deadline for the conclusion of these talks. However, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband indicated that the process is likely to finish in approximately one year. When asked by BBC Newscast if a formal apology could be issued before the UK hosts the G20 summit in Manchester next November, Miliband answered that broadly speaking, yes.
British diplomats cited a desire to show urgency in addressing the issue as the rationale for the specific language used in the communiqué. The exact timeframe for the dialogue will be determined during the structured meetings with nations that have long sought proper acknowledgment of the slave trade's legacy.
Prime Minister Burnham described his new approach to the Commonwealth as well received during the summit. He called it the most successful Commonwealth meeting in recent times. Burnham also noted that King Charles III's remarks resonated powerfully with attendees, expressing satisfaction with how the gathering unfolded.
King Charles III, speaking in his capacity as Head of the Commonwealth, addressed the meeting directly. He stated that the transatlantic trade in enslaved persons still casts a shadow over the islands and other Commonwealth members. The King said the shameful chapter of history fills his heart with horror and his soul with profound personal sorrow.
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