NEW DELHI: South Asian leaders called for vigorous efforts to thwart terrorism, slow climate change and tackle energy and food shortages as they met on Tuesday for an annual summit.
One-fifth of the world's people, and many of its most impoverished, live in the eight countries in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, or SAARC, a group that has often been seen as little more than a talk shop for regional leaders since its founding in 1985. It consists of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, which became a member on Monday.
The group was set up to promote economic cooperation and has since sought to tackle a range of issues, from food security to terrorism. But progress in most areas has been slow, mainly because of the rivalry between India and Pakistan.
The issue of terrorism was raised on Tuesday by Afghanistan, host India and Sri Lanka.
"It is our common duty to fight extremism and terrorism in all forms and sources, including political sponsorship and financing," said President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan.
ndia and Sri Lanka have for decades battled separatist groups that often launch terror attacks. Afghanistan says Taliban militants are orchestrating assaults in Afghanistan from Pakistani territory, a charge Pakistan denies.
President Mahinda Rajapakse of Sri Lanka warned that unless South Asian nations act collectively, transborder terrorist groups will find safe havens.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz of Pakistan and other leaders acknowledged that SAARC has made limited progress, and asked member nations to act quickly to bring about social and economic changes. "Let us move from debate and discussions to concrete action," Aziz said.
The summit's agenda also includes talks on establishing a South Asian university and a regional food bank, and on overcoming problems in implementing a regional free trade agreement that came into effect in July.
Singh said India was ready to open its markets to South Asian nations without insisting on reciprocity. He also cited the need to tackle global climate change and regional energy and food shortages, which he said were "all issues that impact on our development strategies and which need our focused attention."
Member states are also considering India's proposal to streamline their visa processes for each other's citizens. Singh said New Delhi would make it easier for teachers, students, journalists and medical patients from SAARC countries to get Indian visas.
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2 comments:
Subject: A proposal to build a South Asian Union (SAU) like European Union by expanding SAARC states.
His Excellencies,
Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings, Head of Governments & States, Political & Religious Leaders, Intellectuals, Educationists, Economists, Welfare Organizations, Mass People of South Asian region.
Peace be upon all of you, history is repeating from the creation of human life till now and will be repeated until the last final judgment of Creator. Actually, Creator created us as his best creation of life but we divided it into different nations, religions, cultures, languages, ideologies, etc in several thousands of years since the appearance of 1st human Adam (PBUH). We don’t know when the human life on earth will be finished for ever on dooms day, but some think that human life never stop repeating it’s wrongs. Now we have seen that the days of the human being are becoming more critical, insecure, divided among our selves in different ideas, increasing of poverty, and destruction of economy of some nations in comparison with the economy of some rich countries of the west. So the time for South Asian nations to unite as a strong body which is most caring for the inhabitants of this region has come, and in this way, we can develop ourselves. I have no right to waste your valuable time, but my heart is pressing me to place this proposal or advice to the holy hearts of our great rulers of the people of SAARC countries.
Proposal for future South Asian Union (SAU)
1. The mass people of this region want to abolish visa system for them selves in order to enjoy traveling facility freely and free trade among the regional countries like EU states. We can include Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan & Philippine. The Afghan president his Excellency Mr. Hamid Karzai and his Government also shows interest for entering into SAARC.
2. If we can include thirty seven more countries (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan & Philippine) with the seven countries of SAARC (Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives), then this organization or union will be one of the strongest unions. Then we can establish a powerful single currency like EURO as, for example SACU (South Asian Currency), dollar, or any other selected by the forum. And currency value can be fixed by averaging the currency values of the nations concerned.
3. All states will keep there own national flags as state flag and one common union flag, like that of EU.
4. We can establish joint military command council for the defense of the whole region like EU. That means we can unite in a union to ensure human life security along with a strong economy like European Union.
I do not know when the people of this region of South Asia will start to feel love and affection for each other, and will be united. But we should try to establish a golden future for ourselves. If successful, then generation after generation of this region will remember you for your kindness. God bless us with eternal & external peace.
Yours,
Saulat Kamran
E-Mail Address: saulat@dhaka.net
Website: http://www.southasianunion.net
House No -28, Road No-4, Dhanmandi R/A.
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
I am from Dhaka Bangladesh Congratulating to Mr. Barack Obama President elect of United States of America and his family and all his associates those were sacrificed their times to win him. Now the time reach in America and in the world to implement haven like peace & smell of roses in universal society. I expect from rose’s heart that rose will spread its smell in all over the universe. The games of war & terrorism, arms, poverty, barbarism, political violence, massacre, harmful activity will go into the museum for ever. And I also expect that his Excellency Mr. Barack Obama President elect of United States of America will succeed to give us haven like peace in the world. The universe will feel comfort again after years; always we will pray for his good initiatives to succeed.
With Best Regards
Saulat Kamran
Saulat@dhaka.net
www.southasianunion.net
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