Achievements Of Last SAARC Summit

Sharad K. Shrestha

THE 14th SAARC Summit was held in New Delhi, India on April 3 ? 4, 2007. The Heads of State and Governments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka took part in the Fourteenth SAARC Summit. The Heads of State or Government welcomed the entry of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan into SAARC. They reiterated their commitment to the principles and objectives noted in the SAARC Charter. It was agreed to build a partnership for prosperity and work towards shared economic cooperation, regional prosperity, a better life for the South Asian people and equitable distribution of benefits and opportunities of integration among the peoples and the nations.

Objectives

To meet the objectives enshrined in the Charter, first better connectivity within South Asia is vital and then with the remaining nations of the world. It was agreed to improve intra?regional connectivity, mainly physical, economic and people to people connectivity. Agreement was also there for the vision of a South Asian community having smooth flow of goods, services, peoples, technologies, knowledge, capital, culture and ideas in the region. It was recognized that the remarkable rise in economy of SAARC nations has created new opportunities to face poverty with great effort. There is a wide range of homegrown best practices and innovative solutions for transforming the lives of peoples in South Asia. It was decided to earmark one rural community as SAARC village in each Member State to showcase these innovative models of development in order to further replicate these across the region.Recognition was made on the implementation of the Social Charter with due attention. The National Coordination Committees (NCCS) were directed to formulate concrete programs and projects to complement national implementation efforts. The Heads of State or Government underscored that civil society organizations have an important role to play in driving forward the implementation of the Social Charter and directed the NCCS to mobilize these organizations for the achievement of this end. They praised the Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation (ISACPA) for its elaboration of the SAARC Development Goals (SDGS). These goals reflect the regional determination for making quick progress towards achieving the Millenium Development Goals (MDGS). They also agreed that the national plans for poverty alleviation should appropriately mirror the regional concept in the form of the SDGS and the Plan of action on Poverty Alleviation. The two ? tier Mechanism on Poverty Alleviation was entrusted to monitor the progress and fine tune the approaches towards pro? poor growth process. The plus points of an Integrated Multi modal transport system was recognized in the region.

SAARC must move from declaratory to implementation phase for collaborative concrete and effective projects. The SAARC Development Fund (SDF) is an important pillar for bringing concrete benefits to the people of the region. Focus is made on the consistency of decision making and working of the fund with the charter. Priority is required for the early identification and implementation of regional and sub?regional projects under this fund. Early implementation of the recommendations of the second SAARC Energy Ministers' Meeting is required to enhance regional cooperation. Concerted efforts should be made to implement various initiatives under the SAARC Plan of Action on Environment due to the continued degradation of environment. Deep concern should be made over global climate change and the consequent rise in sea level and its impact on the lives and livelihoods in the region. It was agreed to commission a team of regional experts to identify collective actions in this matter. Agreement was made to take measures to facilitate rationalization of telecom tariff on a reciprocal basis. It was also agreed that national and regional telecom infrastructure should be upgraded to boost people to people connectivity in the region.Focus was made on the need for ensuring effective market access through smooth implementation of trade liberalization program. The SAFTA bodies were directed to review the progress on a regular basis. SAFTA should be implemented in letter and spirit. Its successful implementation will prove as catalyst to other areas of regional economic cooperation. To realize its full potential, SAFTA should integrate trade in services. A finalization of an agreement in the services sector should be made at the earliest. The agreement on Investment Promotion and Protection is also required to be finalized.

A comprehensive agreement on harmonizing customs procedures should be finalized. The SAARC Standards Coordination Board would function as a precursor to the SAARC Regional Standards Body. The framework of cooperation on financial issues in the region was finalized. People ? to ? people contact is a key constituent in regional connectivity. Annual SAARC festivals for cultural exchanges should be institutionalized. Scholarship Scheme in ICT and related areas need to be instituted. The South Asian University would be established in India through the signing of intergovernmental agreement. Intergovernmental Steering Committee would be set up at the earliest to complete its tasks related to the Charter, by Laws, rules and regulations curriculum development, business plans and other issues. On educational matters, cooperation and dialogue would be strengthened. Regional projects should focus on women and children related issues. Women's empowerment should be a major objective of regional cooperation. Countries of South Asia must work together to deal with the challenges of poverty, disease, natural disasters and to monsoon for the region's prosperity. The SAARC Food Bank will supplement national efforts to provide food security to the people of nations of South Asia. South Asian Agriculture must benefit from collaborative efforts within and among SAARC nations in developing an effective agriculture research, extension and farmers' linkages and exchanges of farm technology.

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. It was agreed to work on the modalities to implement the provisions of the existing SAARC conventions to combat terrorism, narcotics and psychotropic substances, trafficking in women and children and other trans ? national crimes. India took initiative to prepare a draft of SAARC convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters and Sri Lanka offered to hold a meeting of legal advisors to examine the idea of a draft convention, before the second meeting of SAARC Interior/Home Ministers scheduled to be held in October 2007 in India. Regular follow up and implementation of the decisions taken should be ensured. Tackling CorruptionIt was agreed to exchange information on national experience in combating corruption as an issue of serious concern. All members of WTO should show commitment for a successful conclusion of the Doha Round. The region would benefit from the participation of China, EU, Japan, ROK and the USA as observers to SAARC and help its economic integration with the international community. Iran was also welcomed to be associated as observer to SAARC. All the member nations should work jointly for the successful implementation of the declarations made in this summit. Let us hope for the success of the 15th SAARC Summit Meeting to be held in Maldives.

Source: The Rising Nepal, June 5, 2007