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Приложение 7. Политика. Мироустройство.
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as
the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Com-
monwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of 54 inde-
pendent member states. All members except Mozambique and
Rwanda were part of the British Empire, out of which the Com-
monwealth developed.
The member states cooperate within a framework of
common values and goals, as outlined in the Singapore Declara-
tion. These include the promotion of democracy, human rights,
good governance, the rule of law, individual liberty, egalitarian-
ism, free trade, multilateralism and world peace. The Common-
wealth is not a political union, but an intergovernmental organi-
sation in which countries with diverse social, political and eco-
nomic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status.
Activities of the Commonwealth are carried out through
the permanent Commonwealth Secretariat, headed by the secre-
tary-general, and biennial meetings of Commonwealth Heads of
Government. The symbol of their free association is the Head of
the Commonwealth, which is a ceremonial position currently
held by Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth II is also monarch, sepa-
rately and independently, of 16 Commonwealth members, which
are known as the "Commonwealth realms".
The Commonwealth is a forum for a number of non-
governmental organisations, collectively known as the Com-
monwealth Family, which are fostered through the intergovern-
mental Commonwealth Foundation. The Commonwealth
Games, the Commonwealth's most visible activity, are a product
of one of these organisations. These organisations strengthen the
shared culture of the Commonwealth, which extends through
common sports, literary heritage, and political and legal practices.
Due to this, Commonwealth countries are not considered to be
"foreign" to one another. Reflecting this, diplomatic missions
between Commonwealth countries are designated as high com-
missions rather than embassies.
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