ECO SAARC

INTRODUCTION

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The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an

organisation of South Asian nations, which was established on 8

December 1985 when the government of Bangladesh , Bhutan, India,

Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka formally adopted its charter

providing for the promotion of economic and social progress, cultural

development within the South Asia region and also for friendship and

cooperation with other developing countries. It is dedicated to economic,

technological, social, and cultural development emphasising collective

self-reliance. Its seven founding members are Sri Lanka, Bhutan, India,

Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Afghanistan joined the

organization in 2007. Meetings of heads of state are usually scheduled

annually; meetings of foreign secretaries, twice annually. It is

headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Area of operation of SAARC nations are Agriculture and Rural

Development Health and Population Activities Women, Youth and

Children Transportation Environment and Forestry Science and

Technology and Meteorology Human Resources development .

WHAT IS SAARC?

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The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is

an organization of South Asian nations, founded in 1985 and dedicated to

economic, technological, social, and cultural development emphasizing

collective self-reliance. Its seven founding members are Bangladesh,

Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan

joined the organization in 2007. Meetings of heads of state are usually

scheduled annually; meetings of foreign secretaries, twice annually.

Headquarters are in Kathmandu, Nepal.

History

The first concrete proposal for establishing a framework for regional

cooperation in South Asia was made by the late president of Bangladesh,

Ziaur Rahman, on May 2, 1980. Prior to this, the idea of regional

cooperation in South Asia was discussed in at least three conferences: the

Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi in April 1947, the Baguio

Conference in the Philippines in May 1950, and the Colombo Powers

Conference in April 1954. In the late 1970s, SAARC nations agreed upon

the creation of a trade bloc consisting of South Asian countries. The idea

of regional cooperation in South Asia was again mooted in May 1980.

The foreign secretaries of the seven countries met for the first time in

Colombo in April 1981. The Committee of the Whole, which met in

Colombo in August 1985, identified five broad areas for regional

cooperation. New areas of cooperation were added in the following years.

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Afghanistan was added to the regional grouping on 13 November 2005

With the addition of Afghanistan, the total number of member states were

raised to eight (8). In April 2006, the United States of America and South

Korea made formal requests to be granted observer status. The European

Union has also indicated interest in being given observer status, and made

a formal request for the same to the SAARC Council of Ministers

meeting in July 2006. On 2 August 2006 the foreign ministers of the

SAARC countries agreed in principle to grant observer status to the US,

South Korea and the European Union. On 4 March 2008, Iran requested

observer status. Followed shortly by the entrance of Mauritius.

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The objectives of the Association as defined in the Charter are:

1. To promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve

their quality of life;

2. To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural

development in the region and to provide all individuals the

opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potential;

3. To promote and strengthen selective self-reliance among the

countries of South Asia;

4. To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of

one another's problems;

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5. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the

economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields;

6. To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries;

7. To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international

forums on matters of common interest; and

8. To cooperate with international and regional organisations with

similar aims and purposes.

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PRINCIPLES

The principles are:

Respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political equality and

independence of all members states

Non-interference in the internal matters is one of its objectives

Cooperation for mutual benefit

All decisions to be taken unanimously and need a quorum of all

eight members

All bilateral issues to be kept aside and only multilateral (involving

many countries) Issues to be discussed without being prejudiced by

bilateral issues

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CURRENT MEMBERS

 Afghanistan

 Bangladesh

 Bhutan

 India

 Maldives

 Nepal

 Pakistan

 Sri Lanka

OBSERVERS

 Australia

 China

 European Union

 Japan

 Iran

 Mauritius

 Myanmar

 South Korea

United States

OTHERS

 South Africa has participated in meetings.

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REGIONAL CENTRES

The SAARC Secretariat has established various regional centres in member

states. Each regional centre is managed by a governing board. The GB has

representatives of each of the member state and SAARC Secretariat.

The SAARC Secretariat is supported by following Regional Centres

established in Member States to promote regional cooperation. These Centres are

managed by Governing Boards comprising representatives from all the Member

States, SAARC Secretary-General and the Ministry of Foreign/External Affairs of

the Host Government. The Director of the Centre acts as Member Secretary to the

Governing Board which reports to the Programming Committee.

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REGIONAL CENTRES

SAARC Agricultural Centre (SAC), Dhaka

SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC), Dhaka

SAARC Tuberculosis Centre (STC), Kathmandu

SAARC Documentation Centre (SDC), New Delhi

SAARC Human Resources Development Centre (SHRDC), Islamabad

SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre (SCZMC), Maldives

SAARC Information Centre (SIC), Nepa l

SAARC Energy Centre (SEC), Pakistan

SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC), India

SAARC Forestry Centre (SFC), Bhutan

SAARC Cultural Centre (SCC), Sri Lanka

APEX AND RECOGNISED BODIES

SAARC Apex Bodies

SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI)

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SAARCLAW

South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA)

South Asia Foundation (SAF)

South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC)

Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL)

SAARC Recognized Bodies

SAARC Federation of University Women (SAARCFUW)

Association of Management and Development Institutions in South Asia

(AMDISA)

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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation of Architects (SAARCH)

Federation of State Insurance Organizations of SAARC Countries (FSIO)

SAARC Diploma Engineers Forum (SDEF)

Radiological Society of SAARC Countries (RSSC)

SAARC Teachers Federation (STF)

SAARC Surgical Care Society (SSCS)

South Asian Regional Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and

Leprologists (SARAD)

South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA)

SAARC Women’s Association in Sri Lanka (SWA)

Hindukush Himalayan Grassroots Women’s Natural Resources Management

(HIMAWANTI)

Federation of Association of Pediatric Surgeons of SAARC Countries

(FAPSS)

South Asian Federation of Exchanges (SAFE)

SAARC Federation of Oncologists (SFO)

South Asia Association of National Scout Organization (SAANSO)

South Asian Network of Economic Research Institute (SANEI)

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ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

The SAARC comprises five leayers of organizational structure:

1. Council: At the top, there is the Council represented by the heads of the

government of the member countries. The council the apex policy making body. It

meets once in 2 years time.

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2. Council of Minister: It is to assist the council. It is represented by the foreign

minister of the member countries. Its functions include:

Formulation of policies

Review of functioning

Deciding new areas of cooperation

Chalk our additional mechanism

Decide about general issues of common of interest of the SAARC member.

3. Standing Committee: It is comprised by the foreign secretarian of the member

government. Its major functions are:

To monitor and co-ordinate the programmes

To determine inter-sectored priorities

To mobilise cooperation within and outside the region

To deal with the modalities of financing.

4. Programming Committee: It consist of the senior official of the member

governments. Its functions include:

Scrutinizing the budget of the secretarials

Finalizing the annual schedule

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External activities assigned by the standing committee

Analyses the respects of the technical committee.

5. Technical Committee: It consist of the represented of the member nations. Its

function are:

To formulate project and programmer

To monitor and execute the projects

To submit reports.

The Technical Committee convers the areas such as: Aqriculture, Communication,

Environment, Rural Development, Health and Population, Science and

Technology, Tourism and Transport.

SECRETARIAT

The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987 and

was inaugurated by Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal.

It is headed by a Secretary General appointed by the Council of Ministers from Member Countries in alphabetical order for a three-year term. He is assisted by the Professional and the General Services Staff, and also an appropriate number of

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functional units called Divisions assigned to Directors on deputation from Member States. The Secretariat coordinates and monitors implementation of activities, prepares for and services meetings, and serves as a channel of communication between the Association and its Member States as well as other regional organizations.

The Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the Secretariat which was signed by Foreign Ministers of member countries on 17 November 1986 at Bangalore, India contains various clauses concerning the role, structure and administration of the SAARC Secretariat as well as the powers of the Secretary-General.

In several recent meetings the heads of state or government of member states of SAARC have taken some important decisions and bold initiatives to strengthen the organisation and to widen and deepen regional co-operation.

The SAARC Secretariat and Member States observe 8 December as the SAARC Charter Day1.

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Secretary General, Directors and Staff of the SAARC Secretariat at the function to

celebrate the 25th SAARC Charter Day, 2009 in Kathmandu

ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARIAT

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Servicing the meetings

of SAARCServing as a

communication link between

SAARC & otherinternational

forums

Co-ordinating, monitaring &implementing

SAARC activities

SECRETARIES-GENERAL OF SAARC

Abul Ahsan January 16, 1987 to 15 October 1989

Kishore Kant Bhargava October 17, 1989 to December 31, 1991

Ibrahim Hussain Zaki January 1, 1992 to December 31, 1993

Yadav Kant Silwal January 1, 1994 to December 31, 1995

Naeem U. Hasan January 1, 1996 to December 31, 1998

Nihal Rodrigo January 1, 1999 to January 10, 2002

Q.A.M.A. Rahim January 11, 2002 to February 28, 2005

Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji March 1, 2005 to February 29, 2008

Sheel Kant Sharma March 1, 2008 to February 28, 2011

Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed March 1, 2011 to March, 2012

Ahmed Saleem March, 2012 to present

ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE OF SAARC

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The council

Council of ministers

Standing Committee

Programming Committee

Technical Committee

Secretariat

THE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

Represented by the heads of foreign Minister of the member of Government

FUNCTIONS: The Highest Policy making body

MEETING: The Council meets once in two years.

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

REPRESENTATIVES: Represented by the foreign ministers of member Governments

MEETINGS: The Council meets twice a year or more times if necessary

FUNCTION OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

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It reviews the functioning Of whole

body

system

I t for

mulates pol ic ies

FUNCTIONS OF STANDING COMMITTE

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Determining inter-sectoral

priorities

Formulating the modalities of financing

Monitoring and coordinating programmes

Mobilizing Co-operation within and outside region

Functions of Standing Committee

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

REPRESENTATIVE: It includes the senior officials of the member Governments

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

REPRESENTATIVE: It comprises the representatives of all countries.

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Functions of Programming

committeeAnalyzing the reports and submitting them to

the Standing Committeealong with its components

Scrutinisingthe budget

of the Secretariat

Finalizing the annualschedule

of the secretariat

Carrying out the Activities assigned

by the Standing Committee

Functions of Technical Committee

Formulating Projects &

programmes in their

respective areas

Monitoring & Implementing

Projects

Submitting reports to the Standing

Committee via the Programme

Committee

TECHNICAL COMMITTEES OF SAARC

SOCIAL CHARTER

Re-affirming that the principal goal of SAARC is to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia, to improve their quality of life, to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potential.

Recognising that the countries of South Asia have been linked by age-old cultural, social and historical traditions and that these have enriched the interaction of ideas, values, cultures and philosophies among the people and the States and that these commonalities constitute solid foundations for regional cooperation for addressing more effectively the economic and social needs of people.

Recalling that all Member States attach high importance to the imperative of social development and economic growth and that their national legislative, executive and administrative frameworks provide, in varying degrees, for the progressive realization of social and economic goals, with specific provisions,

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Rural Development

2000Science & Technology

1983Tourism & Transport

2005

Health & Population activities

1984

Environment2000

Communications2004

Agriculture2000

Technical Committees

of SAARC

where appropriate, for the principles of equity, affirmative action and public interest.

Observing that regional cooperation in the social sector has received the focused attention of the Member States and that specific areas such as health, nutrition, food security, safe drinking water and sanitation, population activities, and child development and rights along with gender equality, participation of women in development, welfare of the elderly people, youth mobilization and human resources development continue to remain on the agenda of regional cooperation.

Noting that high level meetings convened since the inception of SAARC on the subjects of children, women, human resettlements, sustainable developments, agriculture and food, poverty alleviation etc. have contributed immensely to the enrichment of the social agenda in the region and that several directives of the Heads of State or Government of SAARC Countries at their Summit meetings have imparted dynamism and urgency to adopting regional programmes to fully and effectively realize social goals.

Reiterating that the SAARC Charter and the SAARC Conventions, respectively on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution, Regional Arrangements for the Promotion of Child Welfare in South Asia and the SAARC Agreement on Food Security Reserve provide regional frameworks for addressing specific social issues, which require concerted and coordinated actions and strategies for the effective realization of their objectives.

Realizing that the health of the population of the countries of the region is closely interlinked and can be sustained only by putting in place coordinated surveillance mechanisms and prevention and management strategies.

Noting, in particular, that Heads of State or Government of SAARC Countries, at their Tenth Summit in Colombo in July 1998, re-affirmed the need to develop, beyond national plans of action, a regional dimension of cooperation in the social sector and that the Eleventh SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in January 2002 directed that a SAARC Social Charter be concluded as early as possible.

Convinced that it was timely to develop a regional instrument which consolidated the multifarious commitments of SAARC Member States in the social sector and provided a practical platform for concerted, coherent and

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complementary action in determining social priorities, improving the structure and content of social policies and programmes, ensuring greater efficiency in the utilization of national, regional and external resources and in enhancing the equity and sustainability of social programmes and the quality of living conditions of their beneficiaries.

The Member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation hereby agree to adopt this Charter:

SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA)

In December 1991, the Sixth Summit held in Colombo approved the establishment of an Inter-Governmental Group (IGG) to formulate an agreement to establish a SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) by 1997. Given the consensus within SAARC, the Agreement on SAPTA was signed on 11 April 1993 and entered into force on 7 December 1995 well in advance of the date stipulated by the Colombo Summit. The Agreement reflected the desire of the Member States to promote and sustain mutual trade and economic cooperation within the SAARC region through the exchange of concessions.

The basic principles underlying SAPTA are:

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a. overall reciprocity and mutuality of advantages so as to benefit equitably all Contracting States, taking into account their respective level of economic and industrial development, the pattern of their external trade, and trade and tariff policies and systems;

b. negotiation of tariff reform step by step, improved and extended in successive stages through periodic reviews;

c. recognition of the special needs of the Least Developed Contracting States and agreement on concrete preferential measures in their favour; and

d. inclusion of all products, manufactures and commodities in their raw, semi-processed and processed forms.

Four rounds of trade negotiations have been concluded under SAPTA covering over 5000 commodities. Each Round contributed to an incremental trend in the product coverage and the deepening of tariff concessions over previous Rounds.

South Asian Free Trade Area(SAFTA)

The Agreement on SAARC Preferential trading Arrangement (SAPTA)[2] was

signed on 11 April 1993 and entered into force on 7 December 1995, with the

desire of the Member States of SAARC (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka,

Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives) to promote and sustain mutual trade and

economic cooperation within the SAARC region through the exchange of

concessions.

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The establishment of an Inter-Governmental Group (IGG) to formulate an

agreement to establish a SAPTA by 1997 was approved in the Sixth Summit of

SAARC held in Colombo in December 1991.

The basic principles underlying SAFTA are as under;

overall reciprocity and mutuality of advantages so as to benefit equitably all

Contracting States, taking into account their respective level of economic

and industrial development, the pattern of their external trade, and trade and

tariff policies and systems;

negotiation of tariff reform step by step, improved and extended in

successive stages through periodic reviews;

recognition of the special needs of the Least Developed Contracting States

and agreement on concrete preferential measures in their favour;

SENSETIVE LIST

A sensitive list is a list with every country which does not include tariff

concession. Bangladesh has 1,233 products on the sensitive list for the Least

Developing countries and 1,241 for the non-Least developing countries under the

SAFTA. Bangladesh will reduce the sensitive list by 246 items for the least

developed countries (LDCs) and 248 for the non-LDCs.[5] India has 25 items on the

sensitive list for the LDCs and 695 for the non-LDCs. Dr Manmohan Singh, the

Indian Prime Minister, announced in September in Dhaka that he will reduce the

Sensitive List by 46. Bhutan has 150 items for both the LDCs and non-LDCs and

has no plan of shortening its list. Nepal has 1,257 for the LDCs and 1,295 for the

non-LDCs. Nepal has reduced its list by 259 from its previous list of 1295. Now

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it's 1036, said joint secretary at Ministry of Commerce and Supplies.[6] The Maldives has 681 for all seven SAFTA nations. Pakistan had 1,169 in its

sensitive list but has cut its sensitive list by 20% to 936 Sri Lanka has 1,042

and Afghanistan has 1,072 items on the negative list.

INSTRUMENTS

Following are the instrument involved in SAFTA:-

Trade Liberalisation Programme

Rules of Origin

Institutional Arrangements

Consultations and Dispute Settlement Procedures

Safeguard Measures

Any other instrument that may be agreed upon.

ROLE OF INDIA IN SAARC

India succeeded in building excellent trade relations and cordial relations on social,

political and economic front with the 6 SAARC countries.

India has been an active member of the SAARC and aims and fostering better

mutual understanding by supporting people-to-people initiatives. India offers a

great source of potential investment in terms of trade and commerce as it is the sole

SAARC member to be sharing borders with all 6 members via land or sea.

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SAARC’s prime objectives include: promoting the welfare of the people of South

Asia, accelerating the Economic growth, social progress; providing dignified

livelihood to all individuals and on a larger scale promoting the self-reliance

amongst the South Asian nations and building trust and appreciation for other

countries’ problem.

In the way of achieving these objectives, poverty has been major hindrance. India

offered a contribution of US $ 100 million at the twelfth Summit held at Islamabad

in 2004.

India’s disputes and military rivalry with Pakistan is believed to be the cause of

ineffectiveness of SAARC in integrating South Asian countries. If Indo-Pak

relations improve, many SAARC nations could benefit from it by improved trade

relations and creation of better export markets. SAARC has failed to work towards

regional co-operation mainly because India has been reluctant to solve major

regional disputes which have given rise to economic and political problems in

South Asia.

Since India has an unbeatable economic, military strength and international

influence compared to all 6 members of SAARC, the disparity of power brings in

the reluctance from smaller states to work with India. They have fear of dominance

from India if they co-operate in order to facilitate faster economic growth.

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India has also heightened the fears of fears of South Asian nations by acting in a

dominating and arrogant way. Its dispute with neighboring Bangladesh due to

redirection of water flows impacting Bangladesh’s agricultural production has kept

Bangladesh afraid of its powers.

Nepal is also fearful that India may take over its world trade because of its

geographical suitability. As a result of all these fears and disagreements, SAARC

has failed to promote regional co-operation and mutual trust amongst the South

Asian countries.

The tension between India and Sri Lanka that prevailed for 4 years over Indian

Military trying to curb the revolution by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil E Elam and

Indo-Pak Dispute over the Kashmir valley and the resulting Trade violations are

enough to prove that South Asian countries fail to achieve SAARC objectives by

any means.

India must come to the front and initiate measures to encourage nations to prove

their mettle and make the SAARC summit a meaningful affair. Appropriate

measures should be taken with the intent of maintaining peace and resolving

disputes amongst the SAARC member countries. Special Economic Zones and

Export Promotion Zones should be created in all member countries to make trading

easier and smooth the relations between the South Asian nations.

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SAARC VISA EXEMPTION SCHEME

The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme was launched in 1992.  The leaders at the Fourth Summit (Islamabad, 29-31 December 1988), while realizing the importance of having people to people contacts, among the peoples of SARC countries, decided that certain categories of dignitaries should be entitled to a Special Travel document, which would exempt them from visas within the region.   As directed by the Summit, the Council of Ministers regularly kept under review the list of entitled categories. 

Currently the list included 24 categories of entitled persons, which include Dignitaries, Judges of higher courts, Parliamentarians, Senior Officials, Businessmen, Journalists, Sportsmen etc.

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The Visa Stickers are issued by the respective Member States to the entitled categories of that particular country.  The validity of the Visa Sticker is generally for one year.  The implementation is reviewed regularly by the Immigration Authorities of SAAR Member States.

ACHIEVEMENT OF SAARC

South Asian Free Trade Area

Over the years, the SAARC members have expressed their unwillingness on

signing a free trade agreement. Though India has several trade pacts with

Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, similar trade agreements with Pakistan

and Bangladesh have been stalled due to political and economic concerns on both

sides. In 1993, SAARC countries signed an agreement to gradually lower tariffs

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within the region, in Dhaka. Eleven years later, at the 12th SAARC Summit at

Islamabad, SAARC countries devised the South Asia Free Trade Agreement which

created a framework for the establishment of a free trade area covering 1.6 billion

people. This agreement went into force on January 1, 2008. Under this agreement,

SAARC members will bring their duties down to 20 percent by 2009.

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ENVIRONMENT

1. A SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC) was established in New Delhi

in October 2006. The SDMC provides policy advice and facilitates capacity

building including strategic learning, research, training, system development,

expertise promotion and exchange of information for effective disaster risk

reduction and management.

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2. Regional Centers such as the SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre in the

Maldives, the SAARC Forestry Centre in Bhutan, the SAARC Disaster

Management Centre in India and the SAARC Meteorological Research Centre in

Bangladesh constitute a framework of SAARC Institutions which address diverse

aspects of environment, climate change and natural disasters.

3. Sixteenth SAARC Summit, Thimphu, 28-29 April 2010

Climate Change was the theme of the Sixteenth SAARC Summit (Thimphu, 28-29

April 2010) and, among others, the Heads of State or Government of SAARC

adopted the Thimphu Statement on Climate Change which outlines a number of

important initiatives at the national and regional levels to strengthen and intensity

regional cooperation to address the adverse effects of climate change in a focused

manner. The Inter-governmental Expert Group on Climate Change (IGEG.CC),

established by the Thimphu Statement, is scheduled to meet in Sri Lanka in 2011.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

At the Thirteenth SAARC Summit held in November 2005 in Dhaka, India

proposed to create a Centre of Excellence, in the form of a South Asian University,

which can provide world class facilities and professional faculty to students and

researchers drawn from every country of the region.

POVERTYALLEVIATION

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Recognizing the imperative to address poverty related issues and to suggest

strategies and measures to alleviate poverty in the region, the SAARC Leaders at

their Sixth Summit (Colombo, 1991) established an Independent South Asian

Commission on Poverty Alleviation (ISACPA).

TOURISM

The Tourism Ministers who met at Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh) in May 2006,

adopted the Cox's Bazar SAARC Action Plan on Tourism.

Several factors such as political, economic, security and potentiality

of mutual economic benefit through regionalism seem to have influenced President

Ziaur Rahman’s thinking about establishing a regional organization in South Asia.

15 SAARC’s existence, however, has enabled South Asian political leaders to meet

regularly and carry on informal discussions to address their mutual problems.

This is no mean achievement given South Asia’s past history and low

level of interaction among South Asian countries since their independence.

Informal talks among the leaders at regularly held SAARC meetings have led to

inter-elite reconciliation on many sensitive issues, producing some noteworthy

results in South Asia. The informal talks between the Indian and Pakistani Prime

Ministers at the second SAARC Summit meeting at Bangalore in November 1986

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led to the diffusion of tension between the two countries on the issue of India’s

military exercise, Operation Brasstacks, on the Indo-Pakistan border, and the India-

Sri Lanka talks at the 1987 SAARC foreign ministers’ meeting led to their accord

on the Tamil problem. As a result of an informal meeting and discussion between

Prime Minister of India and Pakistan, Narasimha Rao and Nawaz Sharif, at Davos

(Switzerland), in 1992, the Pakistani government took action to prevent the move

of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) to cross the ceasefire line in

Kashmir later that year. The Davos meeting was possible because of an earlier

informal agreement between the two leaders at the sixth SAARC Summit meeting

at Colombo in December 1991. Given this utility of SAARC, can the organization

grow or expand its role in the coming decades? The Heads of State or Government

during the Ninth SAARC

FUTURE PROSPECTS

South Asia needs increased co operations among its countries to face challenges

posed by hikes in food prices energy prices, recurrent disasters and climate change.

Due to gerographic, economic, cultural and other strategic reasons. South asia has

distinct advantages to cooperate in many areas including cross border

infrastructure and services, health, trade finance, and regional public goods. Due to

its strategic geographic location. southasia can play an important role in the wider

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Asian integration, Though there are significant achievement in cooperation among

the south asian countries the progress in regional cooperation and integration has

been slow. The SAARCH has tremendous prospects to expedite the integration

process.

Regional co operation can help achieve economic and social development. Cross-

border development of basic infrastructure such as highways, railways, shipping

and air connectivity, inland waterways, power grids, san telecommucation links

can reduce physical barriers to the movement of goods and people across national

boundaries, it can in turn help to expand regional trade and tourism, increase

foreign echange earning capacity, and create labour intensive activites generating

emplyement oppportunites. Reginoal co operation can increase the regional

cooperation can play a very important role in assisting south asian coutires speed

up economic growth.

SAARC has a vital role to play in poverty reduction and building a more

intergrated and prosperous asian region the SAARC can help to be a stabilizing

element to bilateral relationship.

The history of SAARC shows that it had been high on promise and low on

delivery, to change the organization into a more vibrant and result oriented body,

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they need to overcome their differences and disputes and create a climate of mutual

trust and confidence.

The recent steps such as social charter, SAFTA, and declarations on Terrorism are

in the positive direction and their goals appear achievable there political will to do

so appears forthcoming now this looks good for the future of the SAARC.

FUTURE MEMEBERSHIP

The People's Republic of China has shown its interest in joining SAARC.

While Pakistan and Bangladesh support China's candidature, India is

against the prospect of Chinese membership. China's entry in to SAARC

will likely balance India's overbearing presence there. However, during the

2005 Dhaka summit, India agreed on granting observer status to the PRC

along with Japan. During the 14th summit, Nepal along with Pakistan and

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Bangladesh, announced their support for the membership of China. China

seeks greater involvement in SAARC, however, finds it too early to apply

for full membership.

Indonesia intends to become an observer as well, and is supported

by Sri Lanka. Iran, a state with borders to two SAARC members, has

traditionally enjoyed strong cultural, economic and political relationships

with Afghanistan and Pakistan and has expressed its desire to become a

member of the South Asian organization. On 22 February 2005, the Foreign

Minister of Iran, Kamal Kharrazi, indicated Iran's interest in joining

SAARC by saying that his country could provide the region with "East-

West connectivity".

On 3 March 2007, Iran asked to join the SAARC as an observer. SAARC

Secretary-General Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji responded by saying that Iran's

request for observer status would be taken up during a meeting of ministers

of foreign affairs of SAARC member countries in the 3 April summit in

New Delhi.

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Russia intends to become an observer as well, and is supported by

India. Myanmar has expressed an interest in joining as a full member, even

though itis already a member of the ASEAN. If done so, Myanmar will

become the ninth member in the group. India is currently backing Myanmar.

Myanmar's military regime officially applied for full SAARC membership

in May 2008. However, the application is still being considered and the

government is currently restricted to observer status. South Africa has

participated in meetings.

SAARC Youth Award

The SAARC Youth Award is awarded to outstanding individuals from the SAARC

region. The award is notable due to the recognition it gives to the Award winner in

the SAARC region. The award is based on specific themes which apply to each

year. The award recognizes and promotes the commitment and talent of the youth

who give back to the world at large through various initiatives such as Inventions,

Protection of the Environment and Disaster relief. The recipients who receive this

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award are ones who have dedicated their lives to their individual causes to improve

situations in their own countries as well as paving a path for the SAARC region to

follow. The Committee for the SAARC Youth Award selects the best candidate

based on his/her merits and their decision is final.

Previous Winners:

1997: Outstanding Social Service in Community Welfare - Mr. Md. Sukur Salek

(Bangladesh)

1998: New Inventions and Discoveries - Dr. Najmul Hasnain Shah (Pakistan)

2001: Creative Photography: South Asian Diversity - Mr. Mushfiqul Alam

(Bangladesh)

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2002: Outstanding contribution to protect the Environment - Dr. Masil Khan

(Pakistan)

2003: Invention in the Field of Traditional Medicine - Mr. Hassan Sher (Pakistan)

2004: Outstanding contribution to raising awareness for TB and/or HIV/AIDS -

Mr. Ajij Prasad Poudyal (Nepal)

2006: Promotion of Tourism in South Asia - Mr. Syed Zafar Abbas Naqvi

(Pakistan)

2008: Protecting the Environment in South Asia - Ms. Uswatta Liyanage Deepani

Jayantha (Sri Lanka)

2009: Outstanding contribution to humanitarian works in the aftermath of Natural

Disasters - Dr. Ravikant Singh (India)

Conclusion

Though the formation of SAARC is a landmark step taken by the leaders

of the region, the main rational behind its establishment is to develop a congenial

environment through summit plomacy where all nations may interact peacefully

with each other, cultivate sustainable peace and promote mutual economic well

being by harnessing available resources in the region through the peaceful process

of economic integration.

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. The political tensions and conflicts surrounding the countries of a

South Asia pose a question of uncertainty and challenge to the formation of South

Asian Union.

In order to achieve the objectives the SAARC would have to evolve

into a full-fledged ‘regional entity’ that can cultivate peace in the region. The

realization of durable peace and the future of economic integration through

SAARC depend upon the ability and interest of South Asian leaders to resolve

domestic as well as long-standing differences through peaceful eliberations.

WebLOGRAPHY&BIBLIOGRAPHY

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WWW.SAARC.ORG FOR THE DATAWWW.WIKIPEDIA.ORG FOR THE DATAMANAN PRAKASHAN BOOK FOR PROVIDING

ME DATA FOR THE PROJECTWWW.MU.AC.IN

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