Fledgling democracies also routinely ban it as a way of proving their fitness to join the commonwealth of nations.

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Chretien said he would discuss elements of his Monday talks with Bush at an upcoming meeting of Commonwealth nations in Australia, and a subsequent summit of "Francophone, " or French-speaking and influenced nations, later in the year in Lebanon.

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But most of these nations opted to join the Commonwealth, a club of countries all tied through history to the UK and the monarchy.

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The Games will see 11 days of sporting competitions between 71 Commonwealth nations and territories.

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These can focus on the games themselves or Scotland's links to the 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth.

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Also next year, the couple will join other senior members of the Royal Family in undertaking tours to the Queen's realms and Commonwealth nations to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

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Meeting as the Commonwealth of Independent States, the leaders spoke out in support of enhancing the role of the United Nations in the post-war reconstruction of Iraq.

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Of the remaining, 167, 000 were from inside the European Union, and 201, 000 from Commonwealth nations.

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