<P> Other eligible applicants could be any of the remaining inhabited British overseas territories, Crown dependencies, Australian external territories and the Associated States of New Zealand if they become fully independent . Many such jurisdictions are already directly represented within the Commonwealth, particularly through the Commonwealth Family . There are also former British possessions that have not become independent, for example, Hong Kong, which still participates in some of the institutions within the Commonwealth Family . All three Crown dependencies regard the existing situation as unsatisfactory and have lobbied for change . The States of Jersey have called on the UK Foreign Secretary to request that the Commonwealth Heads of Government "consider granting associate membership to Jersey and the other Crown Dependencies as well as any other territories at a similarly advanced stage of autonomy". Jersey has proposed that it be accorded "self - representation in all Commonwealth meetings; full participation in debates and procedures, with a right to speak where relevant and the opportunity to enter into discussions with those who are full members; and no right to vote in the Ministerial or Heads of Government meetings, which is reserved for full members". The States of Guernsey and the Government of the Isle of Man have made calls of a similar nature for a more integrated relationship with the Commonwealth, including more direct representation and enhanced participation in Commonwealth organisations and meetings, including Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings . The Chief Minister of the Isle of Man has said: "A closer connection with the Commonwealth itself would be a welcome further development of the Island's international relationships". </P> <P> At the time of the Suez Crisis in 1956, in the face of colonial unrest and international tensions, French Premier Guy Mollet proposed to British Prime Minister Anthony Eden that their two countries be joined in a "union". When that proposal was turned down, Mollet suggested that France joined the Commonwealth, possibly with "a common citizenship arrangement on the Irish basis ." Talks regarding a form of union faded away with the end of the Suez crisis . No records of those confidential talks appear to exist in French archives and it is likely that the project was the brainchild of Mollet, an anglophile . </P> <P> In recent years, the Commonwealth has suspended several members "from the Councils of the Commonwealth" for "serious or persistent violations" of the Harare Declaration, particularly in abrogating their responsibility to have democratic government . This is done by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which meets regularly to address potential breaches of the Harare Declaration . Suspended members are not represented at meetings of Commonwealth leaders and ministers, although they remain members of the organisation . Currently, there are no suspended members . </P> <P> Nigeria was suspended between 11 November 1995 and 29 May 1999, following its execution of Ken Saro - Wiwa on the eve of the 1995 CHOGM . Pakistan was the second country to be suspended, on 18 October 1999, following the military coup by Pervez Musharraf . The Commonwealth's longest suspension came to an end on 22 May 2004, when Pakistan's suspension was lifted following the restoration of the country's constitution . Pakistan was suspended for a second time, far more briefly, for six months from 22 November 2007, when Musharraf called a state of emergency . Zimbabwe was suspended in 2002 over concerns regarding the electoral and land reform policies of Robert Mugabe's ZANU - PF government, before it withdrew from the organisation in 2003 . </P>

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