Russia keen on observer status at SAARC

Official sources revealed that Russia is keen to get the status of an observer at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in New Delhi Wednesday, according to Indo-Asian News Service.

The news quoted the official sources as saying that Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov discussed Moscow's interest in SAARC with Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshanakar Menon Monday.

But Denisov, who ended a three-day visit to India Tuesday, has clarified that Russia's formal application to get SAARC status may take time.

The 14th SAARC summit here this month approved Iran's application for observer status. The 22-year-old regional grouping comprises India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives and Afghanistan.

Besides Russia, Myanmar is also keen to come in as observer at SAARC.

Source: Xinhua

SAARC big on ideas, short on substance

The turmoil across most of South Asia blights the best intentions

CONFLICT-RIDDEN South Asian nations made little headway in fighting terrorism or boosting trade at a summit this week despite repeated calls for action, analysts said Thursday.

The eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SSARC) ended a two-day summit Wednesday with a declaration that underscored an “urgent need” to implement ideas, more than two decades after the bloc was founded. But there was scant detail about how that would take place.

“There has not been any substantial progress on the two big issues - terrorism and trade despite the fact that every SAARC member is experiencing terrorism of some sort,” said security expert Chitrapu Uday Bhaskar.

“No significant progress has been made this time,” he said. Set up in 1985, SAARC has been criticised for achieving little, mostly because of tensions between key members India and Pakistan which have fought three wars, two over the disputed region of Kashmir.

At the summit, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz stood firmly behind Islamabad’s position that Kashmir was the “key dispute” and that free trade with India depended on progress on the issue. Led by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, most leaders called for action against terrorism, but the New Delhi final declaration did not specify any concrete measures.

The turmoil across most of South Asia blights the best intentions, analysts say. Sri Lanka is fighting Tamil rebels and India is battling Islamic militants in Kashmir. Pakistan and Afghanistan are struggling with the Taliban, while Bangladesh is under emergency rule. Nepal has taken tentaive steps to peace after a decade of Maoist insurgency.

“All these regional problems have a bearing on collective action,” Bhaskar said. But experts cautioned against writing off the grouping completely. Afghanistan was formally included in the bloc at the New Delhi gathering. Observers from the United States, the European Union, China, Japan and South Korea also attended the summit for the first time.

Observer status was granted to Iran for the next summit in the Maldives in 2008, despite diplomatic howls from Western nations. “Iran’s inclusion is a very big development. It will help Iran, and it will also help India as Tehran and Kabul would nudge Pakistan for greater integration into SAARC,” said South Asia expert Sukh Deo Muni.

India’s announcement of duty-free access to neighbours other than Pakistan pleased economists. New Delhi also pledged a more liberal visa regime as a small but significant step in improving trust.

“As the biggest economy in South Asia, it is only in the fitness of things that India should take the first step and throw open its doors to free imports from within the region,” The Hindu newspaper said in an editorial.

“It will put pressure on other countries to take similar steps,” said Muni, who is from the independent New Delhi think-tank Observer Research Foundation.

Last year the South Asian Free Trade Agreement came into force, aiming to create the world’s biggest free-trade area. But Indian and Pakistan are still haggling over details and the volume of trade remains very low. Pakistan remains reluctant to grant Most Favoured Nation status to India.

The rate of growth of trade has however improved in the region despite the partial failure of the free-trade pact. “The trade numbers may not be very impressive, but it’s unfair to compare South Asia to trade blocs of advanced countries,” Muni said.

Source: AFP

14th SAARC Summit ends adopting 30-point declaration

The 14th SAARC Summit held in the Indian capital of New Delhi Wednesday concluded adopting a 30-point declaration, which includes formation of a modality to fight against terrorism in the South Asian region.

Stressing the need to collectively overcome the challenges of poverty, disease, natural disasters and terrorism, the Heads of States or government during the Summit confirmed that countries of South Asia must work together to deal with these challenges in order to secure the region’s collective prosperity.

The SAARC members also underlined that terrorism is a threat to peace and security in the region. They reaffirmed their commitment to implement all international conventions relating to combating terrorism, to which SAARC Member States were respectively parties, as well as the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and the Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention dealing with the prevention and suppression of financing of terrorism. While urging continued efforts to combat terrorism, the Heads of State or Government also called for urgent conclusion of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, the Declaration says.

The SAARC members also expressed satisfaction at the launching of 2007 as the 'Year of Green South Asia.'

The leaders of the SAARC nations also expressed appreciation over the offer of the Maldives to host the 15th Summit Meeting of the Heads of States or Governments of the South Asian Association for the Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The South Asian regional members also welcomed the People’s Republic of China, Japan, European Union, Republic of Korea and the United States of America, to be associated as Observers to SAARC.

Recognition to the full benefits of an integrated multimodal transport system in the region was also agreed. The SAARC members emphasized that this would not be realized unless physical infrastructure and matters relating to customs clearance and other facilitation measures, including multimodal transport operations, were addressed comprehensively. They called for an extension of the SAARC Regional Multimodal Transport Study (SRMTS) to include Afghanistan as well.

Stating that the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) was an important pillar that would bring concrete benefits to the people of the region, the members directed that the SDF be made operational at the earliest. They also agreed that the resources for SDF would be mobilised both from within and outside the region.

Source: ekuntipur

Maldives for making SAFTA fully operational

Highlighting the importance of enhancing regional trade in South Asia, Maldives today called for making the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) fully operational even as it said the benefits of free trade should be made more equitable and inclusive.

Calling SAFTA a "springboard" for economic development of the region, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in his inaugural address at the 14th SAARC Summit here, he said "It should be made fully operational".

Gayoom, however, said the economic cooperation had so far failed to strengthen regional cooperation and the benefits of the more open global economy had not resulted in equitable benefits for the region.

"The benefits of the intra-region trade have to be made more equitable and inclusive," Gayoom said, while stressing on SAARC speeding up its progress to promote the economic benefits.

The Maldives leader said his country gave a lot of importance on the SAARC business leaders conclave.

"We must give it greater endorsement," he said and suggested that the captains of the industry should have a greater role to play in the Summit to achieve the goal of a stronger public-private partnership.

Gayoom said regional cooperation should address issues affecting the quality of life and reminded that his country had proposed the idea of a social charter for the area.

He underlined the issue of gender inequality as one that should be taken up by the regional bloc on a priority basis.

With 2007 having been declared as SAARC Green Year, Gayoom said efforts should be increased to save the environment and address the threats posed by climate change.

Source: Economics Times of India

Maldives President, the only leader to attend all SAARC Summits

While the leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are evaluating the progress of the group here at its 14th Summit, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom seems to be the only man who can really give a first-hand assessment.

President Gayoom is the only SAARC leader to have attended all fourteen summits of the regional group since its inception 22 years ago.

SAARC, the largest regional organization in the world by population, covering approximately 1.47 billion people, was established on December 8, 1985. And, since then, there have been fourteen meetings of the group, which has India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan, and newly inducted Afghanistan as its members.

Different leaders from the group members have been attending the summits, but for Maldives, Gayoom has been the lone representative.

And if experience counts at all, then the statement in his speech given today that the SAARC "must become less of a monopoly of governments, and belong to the people" holds high significance for the member nations.

List of SAARC Summits:

1. December 7-8, 1985 at Dhaka

2. November 16-17, 1986 at Bangalore

3. November 2-4, 1987 at Kathmandu

4. December 29-31, 1988 at Islamabad

5. November 21-23, 1990 at Male'

6. December 21, 1991 at Colombo

7. April 10-11, 1993 at Dhaka

8. May 2-4, 1995 at New Delhi

9. May 12-14, 1997 at Male'

10. July 29-31, 1998 at Colombo

11. January 4-6, 2002 at Kathmandu

12. January 2-6, 2004 at Islamabad

13. November 12-13, 2005 at Dhaka

14. April 3-4, 2007 at New Delhi.

Source: Daily India

United in search for democracy

One king has given up his power on his own in Bhutan — but another had it snatched from him in Nepal. An army-backed government has promised to bring democracy in Bangladesh, but another is accused of crushing it in Pakistan. And far away in the Maldives, a ruler described for decades as a dictator says he wants to give his people true democracy.

As South Asia’s heads of state sat down for discussions on Tuesday in New Delhi, five of the member states are going through a landmark churning that will affect the lives of millions across the subcontinent.

“There are different sort of evolutions taking place, but underneath there is a common thread — the search for democracy,” said South Asia analyst S.D.Muni. “People in the region have become far more aware and aspirational. The states are realising this.”

History was made in Nepal two days ago, when enemies of the past decade came together in a coalition government. Leaders of the Maoist militant movement became part of the administration, a year after dislodging their common adversary, King Gyanendra.

Across the Himalayan border in Bhutan, King Jigme Singye Wangchuk did not let it come to that climax. He surprised his tiny nation by announcing that he was giving up his throne to his son, and would hold national elections in 2008. On April 21, officials will begin a mock drill of the preliminary polls, with four make-believe parties Druk Red, Druk Blue, Druk Green and Druk Yellow. On May 28, the two best parties will take part in the dry run of the final elections.

In the Maldives, the low-lying Indian Ocean island nation, longtime ruler Maumoon Abdul Gayoom — described by his opponents as an autocrat and dictator — has announced a historic democracy roadmap, which, implemented, will transform the nation’s politics.

In a speech on Monday before taking a plane to India, Gayoom did some straight talking: “the hopes that Maldivians have of obtaining freedom, democracy, human rights and a modern, fair and independent system of government have become strengthened.”

Bangladesh offers the other end of the spectrum, where a state of emergency was imposed on January 11 and the country is being governed by former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmed, with the strong backing of the military. Bangladeshi authorities are cracking down on corruption and crime and have promised to bring democracy in less than two years. But it is uncertain what shape it could take.

Source: Hindhusthan Times

Minnows left out

Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (right) at the 14th SAARC summit in New Delhi

Global warming poses a real danger to the Maldives, idyllic islands in the Indian Ocean. A marginal rise in the sea waters, and the very existence of these islands comes under threat. However the concerns of Maldives on global warming are not on the minds of other leaders attending the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi.

On top of the SAARC agenda is terror – the primary concern of the three big players, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. That is enough reason for the minnows the Maldives, Bhutan and Nepal to feel marginalised and left out.

Though SAARC claims to promote regional cooperation, the summit agenda is sure to alienate Maldives, a country that is likely to bear the brunt of the changing weather pattern.

But concerns on global warming are not getting the attention that Maldives would want.

HOGGING THE SPACE: The ‘big three’ at SAARC represented by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri

Interestingly, while the Big Three talk of terror, there is no mention of how tiny Bhutan, too, has warded off the threat of terror from its land. Hardly has anybody acknowledged Bhutan's role in curbing the ULFA.

Even Nepal, which has conquered the problem of Maoist terror, finds little mention among the delegates. There is no recognition of how the political process has succeeded in Nepal.

With the concerns of Maldives, Bhutan and Nepal finding little mention, these smaller countries in the SAARC grouping could end up feeling like spectators at the Delhi summit, pushed to the lower end of the table.

Source: Time Now TV

South Asian leaders gather in New Delhi for summit

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.

Source:

Sri Lanka to strengthen economic co-operation with Maldives, Bangladesh

COLOMBO: Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama who is in New Delhi to attend the 14th SAARC Summit called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives and Chief Advisor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh yesterday.

The Ministers of Bangladesh and Maldives are in New Delhi to attend the SAARC Summit,states a Foreign Ministry press release.

Minister Bogollagama discussed with his Maldivian counterpart Dr. Ahamed Shaheed issues ranging from an increase of air traffic and connectivity, terrorism and its threat to the region, drug trafficking and organised crime, and other issues relating to economic and political co-operation.

Minister Bogollagama expressed gratitude to the Foreign Minister of Maldives for the excellent hospitality extended during the recent State visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the Maldives.

Minister Bogollagama agreed to the request of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives to have the Joint Commission Meeting in due course.

Further, the Minister stated that the library project in the Maldives, which Sri Lanka is funding, would be inaugurated as scheduled.

Minister Bogollagama discussed dynamics of fisheries between the two countries and requested the Maldivian side to propose dates for the sub-commission on fisheries. Strategies relating to the enhancement of bilateral tourism were also discussed.

Among economic co-operation, Sri Lanka had extended 14 full scholarships for under-graduate education to students for Maldives.

The proposition of health and medical services which was proposed during the recent State visit of President Rajapaksa to the Maldives were also discussed. Minister Bogollagama extended high priority to trade in general and intra-regional trade in particular.

He requested his Maldivian counterpart to support the already existing SAFTA and the concept of free trade both in letter and spirit, at the forthcoming SAARC Summit, in order to have smooth execution and unimpeded flow of trade.

The two Ministers agreed on the political and economic utility of forming a SAARC Parliament. Minister Bogollagama transcended even further to propose the intrinsic economic utility of having a single currency in the region in the future.

The Ministers discussed the increasing menace and vulnerability of terrorism, particularly in the backdrop of the illicit light aircraft used by the LTTE last week among others.

On the same note, the Ministers were of the conviction that terrorism needs to be addressed comprehensively and efficaciously in order to ensure security and stability in the region.

During a call on the Chief Advisor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Iftikhar Ahmed Chowdhury by Minister Bogollagama, the current situation in Sri Lanka, including terrorism, were expounded.

Minister Bogollagama impressed the fact that a large number of Front Organisations of the LTTE raise funds for their illegitimate and heinous terrorist activities. Chief Advisor of Bangladesh stated that his country would endeavour to work in a concerted manner to ensure that the entire region would be free of the scourge of terrorism.

In the context of terrorism, Minister Bogollagama added that the key countries of the region were very supportive of the counter-terrorism initiatives proposed by Sri Lanka.

The two dignitaries discussed the opportunities and economic vistas in the realm of trade as well as in investments between the two countries.

Minister Bogollagama stated that one of his objectives were to transform Sri Lanka to a global Apparel Hub. Minister Bogollagama also raised the issue of air services and connectivity between Dhaka and Colombo.

Further, the Minister raised the fact that bilateral trade between the two countries has not risen in a significant manner in the past. The Chief Advisor too extended due cognizance to these concerns and requests and added that his Government would address these issues.

He did add that it would be difficult to explain to any a person the reason for not having direct connectivity between Dhaka and Colombo, given the best of relations the two countries have been maintaining.

Source: Daily News Sri-Lanka

Security beefed up in Capital for SAARC summit

. NEW DELHI: With no-fly zones being declared in some areas of the national Capital ahead of the SAARC summit, security was further beefed up following input from an external intelligence gathering agency that four militants had sneaked into the Capital to cause disruption.

Amid threat perception from Pakistan-based militant groups and the LTTE, security agencies decided to declare the hotels where the delegates would be staying as "no-fly" zones to ward off any aerial attack.

The summit comes after an aerial attack by the LTTE against the Sri Lankan Air Force last week.

Meanwhile, a series of raids were being carried out by police in Badarpur area for militants of Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islamia of Bangladesh, who had reportedly infiltrated into the country.

An intelligence input received from the external intelligence gathering agency had warned that four HuJI militants had sneaked in and would attempt to disrupt the SAARC summit which will be attended by heads of states.

Delhi Police sources said spotters from various militancy-infested states had been placed at the entry and exit points to identify anti-national elements wanting to enter the national capital.

So far there had been no success, the sources said, adding that the HuJI may like to disrupt the meet following last week's execution of some of the militants by the interim government in Bangladesh.

The summit being held on April 3-4 was being attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, Nepalese Prime Minister G P Koirala, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Bangaldesh chief advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed and Bhutan Prime Minister Khandu Wangchuk.

Source: Times of India

FACTBOX-Hope vs reality at New Delhi's SAARC meet

Trade and terrorism are on the agenda for the 14th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in New Delhi on April 3 and 4. Here is an overview of the group and its agenda. HISTORY, AIMS: - SAARC was established in 1985 by Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. - Formed to help boost economic growth and trade in one of the world's poorest regions -- home to about 1.5 billion people, tens of millions of whom live in abject poverty -- it has been flayed by critics who say it has remained a talking shop where lofty speeches are rarely translated into action.

TRADE RHETORIC AND REALITY: -

Trade between members did not accelerate in the five years after structured economic cooperation began with the SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) in December 1995. - Intra-SAARC trade remained at 3.8 percent of the region's total trade in 2000, a 2003 International Monetary Fund report said. Recent figures put it at 5.3 percent of exports and 4.8 percent of imports.

SLOW PROGRESS, INDIA-PAKISTAN PROBLEMS: -

Signed in January 2004, the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement, supposed to supersede SAPTA, finally came into force in July 2006. - Aimed at achieving zero tariffs on almost all products by 2012, SAFTA has witnessed squabbles over tariff concessions with Pakistan accusing India of violating the agreement with various Non-Tariff Barriers. - SAARC's perceived failure to take off despite many summits has been traced to mistrust and animosity between its two biggest members, India and Pakistan, whose rivalry dates back to their independence in 1947. Their uneasy ties, particularly over disputed Kashmir, still undermine greater regional cooperation.

NEWCOMERS AND OBSERVERS: -

Afghanistan formally becomes the group's eighth member at the Delhi summit. In joining, strategically located Afghanistan hopes to link its war-ravaged economy with the relatively more prosperous subcontinent to spur reconstruction and development. - China, Japan, South Korea, the United States and the European Union have observer status.

ISSUES ON THE TABLE IN DELHI: -

Sri Lanka's foreign minister said he would push for a regional counter-terrorism drive at the summit, after the March 27 air attack by rebel separatist group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, on a Sri Lankan airbase this week. - Forming an economic union with a single currency by 2020 could be discussed. Sources: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (www.saarc-sec.org/main.php), IMF Working Paper, Patterns of Shock and Regional Monetary Cooperation in South Asia (www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2003/wp03240.pdf)

Source: Reuters

Afghanistan to join SAARC : Food bank, regional university on summit agenda

Upcoming 14th SAARC Summit being held in New Delhi on April 3-4 would ratify proposals on establishing regional food bank and a South Asian University, while a joint declaration would formalise entry of Afghanistan as the eighth member of SAARC, Foreign Ministry sources said Wednesday.

The Summit meeting agenda would also particularly consider on the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) and relaxing of visa policy between the member countries. Other major agendas include controlling terrorism and bolstering connectivity among the member states.

The member countries have already exercised and agreed on the three major issues in the ministerial and secretary level talks earlier and a meeting of the state heads would formalise them during the Summit meeting.

The proposed regional food bank would be established to meet the growing pressure on food security in the region. "The food bank will come into operation to meet the exigencies during calamities so that the SAARC member states could immediately tackle the crisis," the source said.

Once the deal is finalised, the food bank will start initially with a reserve of 241,580 tons of food grain, which would be gradually increased.

According to the proposal, India will contribute 153,200 tons of food grain while Pakistan and Bangladesh 40,000 tons each, Sri Lanka and Nepal 4,000 tons each, Maldives 200 tons and Bhutan 180 tons of food grain.

Connectivity to bolster economic ties through freer movement of goods and enhancing people-to-people contact between the regional countries will also be among the thrust areas in the next month's SAARC summit.

The three aspects of connectivity will be physical connectivity in terms of concrete infrastructural projects, economic connectivity through freer movement of goods and trade, and connectivity of ideas and people through increased people to people contact rather than a mere inter-governmental process.

For the first time, five observers from China, Japan, Korea, USA and the European Union will be attending the summit.

During the meeting, modalities are expected to be worked out in the preparatory meeting for operationalising a 'SAARC development fund' by wrapping up the proposed 100 million dollars fund for poverty alleviation in SAARC countries and South Asia development fund.

Under the proposed telemedicine network project the hospitals in SAARC countries would be connected to the super-speciality hospitals in India.

Source: The Rising Nepal

Big powers' presence to make 14th Saarc summit a landmark event

The two-day 14th Saarc Summit, which kicks off in New Delhi Tuesday, is expected to be a "landmark" event seeing the inclusion of Afghanistan as new member in the regional grouping and the presence of the US, EU, China, Japan and South Korea as observers, first time in its 22-year history.

Officials said the presence of the five major economies from outside the region would extend the appeal of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) to the larger international community as it enhances their interest in the functioning of the regional body.

There would be some power play as the super economic powers are coming in as observers, but the officials did not rule out the positive impact it would have on the region.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, South Korean Foreign and Trade Minister Song Min-soon, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher and the EU by its New Delhi-based envoy will represent their countries at the summit.

Each of the observers, who would be attending a Saarc summit for the first time, would be allowed to deliver a four-minute speech in the presence of the heads of state or government at the inaugural function on Tuesday.

Sources said a number of observer countries are likely to play a more proactive role in economically engaging the region and may put pressure on the Saarc for more competition and integration.

Bangladesh has welcomed the external powers in Saarc and the five major countries got the observer status and Afghanistan as new member under the chair of Bangladesh in the 13th Saarc Summit in Dhaka.

Foreign ministry officials said major countries and economic powers have shown their interest to be associated with the South Asian region and it is also a fact that Saarc would benefit from these external linkages.

They said the Saarc member countries would call for a collective fight against terrorism and push for greater economic integration and connectivity in South Asia. There will be special focus on the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (Safta).

The focus would also be on making the grouping a more efficient organisation and move it towards implementing some of the crucial regional projects that have been under discussion for long.

The dream of a South Asian University (SAU) would move a step closer to reality at the summit when leaders will discuss the details of the project to make the proposed university--a large part of which will be based in India.

An inter-governmental agreement would be signed first to form the university before the details are worked out. The SAU is expected to be established in the Indian capital New Delhi.

The decision to have the first SAU in India was taken at a meeting of the university regulatory bodies of the Saarc countries and would now be ratified by the ministerial meeting on April 2.

Guhar Rizvi, a Bangladeshi national of Harvard University, prepared the concept note of SAU. The proposed SAU would witness free flow of students as well as faculty from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Sources say it would take another two to three years before SAU becomes a reality. The SAU would be a modern university and be developed as a centre of excellence on the lines of American Ivy League universities.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh proposed the establishment of SAU during the 13th Saarc Summit in Dhaka in 2005 with the objective to provide world-class facilities and professional faculty to students and researchers drawn from every Saarc country.

Other important intra-regional projects that would be discussed include Saarc Development Fund, Regional Telemedicine Network and Regional Food Bank.

Promoting greater connectivity--physical, economic and people to people--in the region would be the key theme of the summit.

According to an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 14th Saarc Summit will adopt a declaration establishing the Saarc Food Bank and the SAU.

Before the Saarc Summit on April 3-4, the meeting of the Saarc Council of Ministers will be held on April 2, the meeting of the Foreign Secretary level Standing Committee tomorrow and April 1 and the meeting of the Program Committee today.

Source: The Daily Star

Letter to SAARC Leaders In Anticipation of Summit In New Delhi

Human Rights Watch released today a letter to the leaders of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives urging them to make the promotion and protection of human rights a priority for the SAARC summit meeting on April 3-4 in New Delhi. March 29, 2007Dear SAARC Government Leaders:As the leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) meet in New Delhi on April 3 and 4, 2007, the discussions will inevitably focus upon economics and regional security. At SAARC meetings, human rights problems in each member country have usually been treated as an internal matter. However, it takes only a quick survey of the region to see that there are many human rights issues that would benefit from mutual engagement and agreement. Apart from other serious human rights problems, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka are also dealing with situations related to armed conflicts and insurgencies. Nepal, with its numerous human rights problems, has only just emerged from a violent conflict that claimed over 13,000 lives, and violence continues in the south. Bangladesh has witnessed increased militancy and the caretaker government has detained tens of thousands, often ignoring basic due process, in its efforts to combat corruption and crime. Bhutan continues to discriminate against citizens of Nepali origin. In the Maldives, there are serious curbs on political freedom.

In the Maldives, citizens continue to face restrictions on political freedom. Security forces have been implicated in torture and arbitrary detention, among other abuses. There are severe limitations upon the rights to freedom of the press, assembly, association, and religion. Unequal treatment of women continues, as do restrictions on workers' rights. [Read More]

Source:

Leaders of Sri Lanka, Pak, Afghanistan to get extra security during SAARC summit

Leaders of Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Afghanistan, three of the world's most volatile countries, will get extra security during the 14th SAARC summit here from April 3.

"We have decided to tighten security for participants of these countries because of the threat perceptions. Their movements will be closely choreographed," said a senior security official overseeing arrangements, reported here The Times of India.

The summit is expected to see the participation of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and new member Afghanistan.

Security will be the tightest for Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz of Pakistan and Presidents Mahinda Rajapakse of Sri Lanka and Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan.

While militants including the Taliban and Al Qaeda are active both in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Tamil Tigers have dramatically stepped up their campaign against the Sri Lankan state.

Routes from hotels to Vigyan Bhavan, where the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit will take place, will be sanitized and entry of visitors to the hotels will be strictly monitored.

Separate communication networks have been set up in the four hotels where the delegates will stay and they will be connected to the Delhi Police headquarters. No other guest will be allowed to stay on floors occupied by the delegates.

"This is to keep an eye on even the smallest movement inside the hotel premises," said a police officer.

Elite commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG) will assist Delhi Police in carrying out anti-sabotage checks before the arrival of the eight heads of government and state.

Quick reaction teams have also been positioned at hotels and the summit venue to meet any exigency.

The forested ridge area behind the Maurya Sheraton hotel will be barbed and added patrolling has been ordered.

"We will also deploy excess staff at all transit points and security drills would be conducted every day before the arrival of the VIPs," the officer said.

Close circuit television cameras will be put up at all vantage points.

In this year's summit, the US, China, Japan, the European Union and South Korea have been invited for the first time as observers.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, and South Korean Foreign and Trade Minister, Song Min-soon, will represent their countries.

The US is likely to be represented by Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher and the EU by its New Delhi-based envoy. Observers have been invited to the open plenary and closing meetings.

Source: Islamic Republic New Agency

Goals Of SAFTA : Economic Liberalisation

By Shankar Acharya
Indeed, today is the world of economic liberalisation and globalisation. Trade is, thus, the most important and powerful engine of economic development. Poverty alleviation, accelerated economic co-operation, social sector development, tourism, and people-to-people contact are some of the core areas of regional economic integration, which can bring prosperity to the people and nations of the region.

SAFTA is set to bring the aforesaid economic activities among the member states in the future. The contracting states, except Nepal, had agreed to reduce tariffs under the trade liberalisation programme (TLP) on July 1, 2006. Nepal did so a month later on August 1. Tariff reduction under the first phase of SAFTA is 20% by all non-LDC members, and will be 30% by the LDC members within two years of the TLP.

Trade
SAFTA came into existence with the aim of reducing tariffs for intra-regional trade among the seven SAARC members. India and Pakistan are to implement it by 2013, Sri Lanka by 2014, and Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal by 2015. The tariff reduction until the December 31, 2015 would be 0-5% by all the contracting states. But the member states have yet to notify of the tariff reduction.
It is now time to review the implementation of SAFTA. The Framework Agreement of SAFTA has indicated that the SAFTA Committee of Experts shall meet at least once every six months or more often as and when considered necessary by the contracting states.

Presently, SAFTA has only seven members, including three Non-Least Developed Contracting States (Non-LDCs) and four Least Developed Contracting States (LDCs). But, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan will become a new member of SAARC and SAFTA Agreement also. Hence, the committee of experts had discussed about its membership and obligations to implement the SAFTA within a time bound framework.

Para-tariff and Non-tariff measures are the most important factors hindering trade among the member states. Thus, the member states have notified that type of barriers through the SAARC Secretariat to each of the contracting parties. The successful implementation of SAFTA will depend on removing the para-tariff measures (PTMs) and non-tariff measures (NTMs) imposed by the member states.

The contracting states have to be liberal with each other in sharing the benefits equally and reducing the non-tariff measures/barriers. In the meantime, the lists of measures taken by the member states have been seen at the larger areas. It is being played the inverse situation on the free trade area.

So, the meeting was near the compromise, and it would be better and fruitful, if the member states focused on timely removal of these trade barriers by all member countries. Further, the meeting had been productive, because the member states agreed to provide the information relating to the NTMs and PTMs being currently applied by them on their imports.

The sensitive list is a main provision in the SAFTA agreement. It is a means of restricting products from other member countries from entering one's country through tariffs. The issue of sensitive list saw heated among the contracting parties during the meetings of the Committee of Experts (CoE). In the SAFTA sensitive list, member states include potential export items such as agriculture products, tea, ghee, diary products and handicrafts.

The Agreement provides for periodic reviews of the Sensitive Lists. In order to protect relevant domestic industries, it has also been agreed that the non-LDC members may have two lists- one for the non LDCs and the other for the LDCs. India's sensitive list for the LDCs has 763 items, while it has kept 884 items for the non-LDCs.

Nepal's final indicative list for the non-LDCs has 1,335 items while the list for LDCs has 1,299 items. Bangladesh has kept 1,254 items in its sensitive list for the non-LDCs and 1,249 items for the LDCs.

Similarly Pakistan has kept a single list of 1,183 items for both the non-LDCs and LDCs. Sri Lanka has kept 1,065 items in its single sensitive list. and Bhutan's single sensitive list contains 167 items. The Maldives has put 671 items in its sensitive list for all. Indeed, we are moving the free market regime to obtain the benefits and to increase the intra-regional trade volume within the region. So, we have to more liberal and with the help of reduced sensitive items and we should put more products in the open market baskets. It is being observed that the sensitive list shall be reviewed in the forthcoming meeting. Furthermore, this meeting had discussed quantitative restriction (QR) under Article 7(5) of SAFTA Agreement.

SAFTA Agreement has mentioned a separate Article on working procedure about the dispute settlement mechanism for smooth operation of SAFTA. The meeting drew the attention of the delegation of all members viewing on establishment of a panel of specialists under Article 20(8) of the SAFTA Agreement.

Currently, SAFTA Agreement has covered only Trade in Goods among the member states. Trade on services is the emerging issue in the South Asian Trade. Therefore, the meeting has discussed and gave a fertile attention for study on incorporating Trade in Services in SAFTA Agreement.

SAARC Regional Multimodal Transport Study (SMRTs), with funding from Asian Development Bank has been completed. The Second Ministerial Council Meeting considered the report of the second meeting of the SAFTA COEs. In addition, It had also discussed the status of SMRTs report.

India and Pakistan are the biggest player of the SAARC nations. But, they have a great unsolved political issue that is hindering several economic sectors of both countries. Formal trade between the two countries is very low, but informal trade is very high due to the political aspect. Pakistan has ratified the SAFTA Agreement, but it has mentioned 'Pakistan does not like to give the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) treatment to India' only. The trade liberalization process under SAFTA mostly depends on Indian interest because SAARC regional imports are dominated mostly by exports from India, which accounts for nearly 90 per cent of its regional trade. While the region absorbs five per cent of India's total exports, only one per cent of India's imports come from the region.
Finally, SAFTA has been running since last year. The implementation of SAFTA is a crucial issue of the region. In the intra-regional trade among the countries is only 4 percent. So SAFTA provides tremendous opportunity to boost trade among the member states.

Consensus
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) organized the Second SAFTA Committee of Experts (COEs) and the Second Ministerial Council (MC) meeting on 24-26, February 2007 in Kathmandu. These meetings had discussed the various issues including Non-tariff, para-tariff barriers and Non-compliance of SAFTA Agreement by Pakistan. The heads of the Indian and the Pakistan delegation have agreed to build a positive consensus to hold a bilateral meeting between the two countries before the next SAFTA COEs. This compromise position had created harmony at the meeting. It will create a congenial environment amongst all members for the successful implementation of SAFTA, because the success of SAARC will depend on the effective achievement of SAFTA.

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Support For Iranian SAARC Membership

Iran's request to join the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has gained support from India, the Indo-Asian News Service reported March 27, citing a senior Indian official. The official said it is unclear if other member countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, would support SAARC membership for Iran. The issue will be addressed during the SAARC summit in New Delhi from April 3-4.

Source: Stratfor

Saarc summit to focus on Safta, visa policy

ISLAMABAD: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit meeting agenda would particularly focus on the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (Safta) and softening of visa policy between the member countries would also be considered.

“A meeting of the programming committee of the Saarc is convened in New Delhi on March 29 to prepare agenda for the summit meeting,” an official told The News here Monday. “A Pakistani delegation led by Jalil Abbas Jilani, Director-General in the Foreign Office, would reach New Delhi on March 29,” he added.

The official said that Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, who would accompany President Gen Pervez Musharraf to Riyadh on March 27, would return on March 29 and would leave for New Delhi on March 31 along with Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan.

He said that arrangements have been finalised for the Saarc summit meeting in New Delhi from March 31 to April 4. According to the official, the foreign minister would lead the Pakistani delegation at the Saarc Council of Ministers Conference. He would hold meeting with Adviser to the Bangladesh President on Foreign Affairs Iftikhar Chaudhry. Kasuri would discuss the fourth round of composite dialogue with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee.

“Kasuri will also hold meetings with the foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan during his stay in New Delhi,” he added. The official said that the Saarc summit meeting would accord approval to the agenda prepared by the Council of Ministers and would issue the joint communiquÈ.

He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would hold meetings with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and leaders of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan to discuss the ways and means to strengthen bilateral relations.

“During retreat, the leaders of the Saarc countries will hold informal meetings and will extend invitations to each other for visit to their respective countries.” The official said that India would make efforts to raise the non-implementation of the Safta at the Programming Committee and Council of Ministers meetings. He said that Afghanistan, which would attend the Saarc summit for the first time as a member of the association, would fully support the Indian stance on implementation of Safta.

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China to attend SAARC summit

Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will attend the 14th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) from April 3 to 4 in New Delhi.

Li Zhaoxing will head a delegation to attend the meeting at the invitation of the Indian government, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang Tuesday.

This was the first time for Chinese delegation to attend the SAARC summit after China became an observer state, he said.

Founded in 1985, the SAARC includes Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan. China, Japan, North Korea, the US and the European Union are observers of the organisation.

Source: Malaysia Sun

Trade and travel on SAARC agenda, says Mukherjee

India says boosting trade and easing travel restrictions within South Asia will be the issues dominating a summit of the region’s leaders here early next month.

“The objective of the upcoming summit will be to see that the spirit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is translated at different layers,” Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Press Trust of India news agency in an interview.

“Visa restrictions have to be removed ... all these issues we will try to resolve at various levels, including at the summit level,” he said in the interview, excerpts of which were released on Sunday.

The New Delhi summit, to be held on April 3-4 and attended by the heads of government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, will formally welcome Afghanistan as its eighth member.

In his interview, Mukherjee said market reforms introduced by South Asian nations had ensured “all the SAARC countries have had good GDP growth over the last one-and-a-half decades, despite many problems and political uncertainties”. “But this is not reflected in the intra-regional trade,” he said, noting that the volume of trade among SAARC countries was merely five percent.

Mukherjee said he hoped Pakistan would implement the South Asian Free Trade Agreement soon. “Pakistan has been raising certain non-tariff issues, which we will try to address,” he said. afp

Source: Daily Times