Fiji, March 24 -- The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Shirley Botchwey has warned that rising global debt is threatening development, sovereignty and survival for many countries, particularly small and vulnerable states.

Opening the Commonwealth Forum on Sustainable Sovereign Debt at Marlborough House Monday, Botchwey said governments are being forced into difficult trade-offs that affect their people and future.

"Debt is not a question of balance sheets. For many countries, it is a question of choices; of social cohesion and of survival."

"Between investing in people or servicing the past. Between resilience, and vulnerability. Between sovereignty, and the choices of creditors," said Botchwey.

She said for many small states, th...