00:00Commonwealth leaders meeting in Antigua and Barbuda on Wednesday have welcomed Britain's agreement to join talks on the legacy of
00:09the transatlantic slave trade.
00:12Britain's role in slavery has long strained relations with its former colonies.
00:18Our heads welcome the agreement of the government of the United Kingdom to engage in a structured, time-bound, inclusive
00:25and good-faith dialogue with affected parties addressing the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and its historical harms.
00:37Throughout our deliberations, we were guided by...
00:39Further details were set out in a joint communique at the end of the summit.
00:46And this structured dialogue that he has proposed, we're hoping that it will take place sometime within the next 12
00:52months.
00:53We have also agreed in principle that by the end of this year, or early next year, that the whole
00:59framework for the dialogue will be established.
01:02And again, we're not going to make any unreasonable demands on the United Kingdom, but it's a matter that has
01:09to be addressed and to be addressed in a mature way.
01:16UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he wants to bring a new approach to the discussion and opened the
01:23door to a formal apology.
01:25However, his government has ruled out making financial reparations for slavery, saying it's not feasible.
