Kathmandu: Top diplomats of the eight-member SAARC grouping on Sunday discussed cooperation on a range of issues like combating terrorism, poverty alleviation, energy security and climate change. Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh and other top diplomats met at the 41st meeting of SAARC Standing Committee ahead of the 18th SAARC Summit scheduled from November 25 to 27.
Representatives from the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, along with observers from nine other countries will take part in the summit.
Foreign secretaries from all SAARC member states are attending the meeting. The Standing Committee Meeting was opened by Ali Naseer Mohamed, Chair of the Standing Committee and the Leader of the Delegation from the Maldives. The meeting elected Shanker Das Bairagi, Acting Foreign Secretary and the Leader of the Nepalese delegation, as the Chairman of the Committee.
"As terrorism in all its forms and manifestations has remained a formidable challenge for our region, coordinated and concerted efforts are required to tackle the situation," said Bairagi. "Though poverty alleviation has remained a major agenda of the SAARC for decades, a quarter of our people still lives in poverty and hunger despite our consistent efforts. Redoubling of our efforts is absolutely necessary to eradicate poverty and hunger from the regional landscape.
"As this region is suffering from acute energy deficit, we can make tremendous progress through meaningful cooperation in this sector," said Bairagi. Trade has a huge potential to make the region a vibrant economic zone and strong commitment and decisive actions are required to fully and effectively implement South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement, he added. During the meeting SAARC Secretary General presented his Periodic Analytical Report, which was approved by the Committee with recommendations. On the occasion, member states presented their Country Reports on SAARC activities.
The meeting also considered the Reports of the 46th, 47th, 48th and 49th Sessions of the Programming Committee as well as the Report of the 2nd Meeting of SAARC Cabinet Secretaries, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting also held discussions on economic and financial cooperation, including SAFTA and SATIS. Besides, it deliberated upon matters relating to South Asian Regional Standards Organisation (SARSO), Statistics, SAARC Arbitration Council, and SAARC Trade Fairs.
The standing committee also discussed matters relating to SAARC Development Fund and considered ways and means to make it an effective tool for development activities in the region, according to Foreign Ministry sources. Similarly, issues relating to poverty alleviation, information and communication technology, transport, energy, agriculture, rural development and food security, climate change and natural disaster, health and population, narcotic drugs and education among others figured in the discussions.
The meeting concludes on Monday when its report will be submitted to the SAARC Council of Ministers to be convened on November 25.
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