Secretaries of 7 S.Asian nations are expected finalise modalities for the expansion of the Association for Regional Cooperation with Afghanistan as a new member and observer status for two other Asian
April 5, 2006 (Press Release) --
Secretaries of seven South Asian nations are expected finalise modalities for the expansion of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation with Afghanistan as a new member and observer status for two other Asian nations.
A special meeting scheduled for an April 11 start in Dhaka would also review the progress of other issues discussed during the 13th SAARC summit in November last year and place a set of recommendations for the council of ministers’ meet sometime in June this year.
The standing committee would look into whether or not SAARC expansion requires modification of the charter although all the top leaders of the bloc endorsed the inclusion of Afghanistan in the regional grouping.
‘They will look into necessary amendments according to requirements…they will also chalk out the criteria for observer status or dialogue partner, whichever it is, as China and Japan have already been accepted to get such status,’ M Morshed Khan, the foreign minister, told reporters at his office on Tuesday.
He said, however, the group had no provision to have new members, and observers or dialogue partners earlier. ‘These things need to be addressed.’
The top South Asian leaders during the 13th SAARC summit ‘welcomed the request by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for membership and invited Afghanistan as a member, subject to the completion of formalities.’
In principle, they also agreed with the desire of the People’s Republic of China and Japan to be associated as observers. The foreign ministers’ meeting will finalise the deal.
Asked whether the standing committee would deal with proposals by a number of Western countries to obtain observer status in the South Asian forum, the foreign minister replied in the negative. ‘These will be dealt with later.’
The United States, Germany and the European Commission have formally asked to become SAARC observer.
Beside these issues, the foreign minister said, the special standing committee is also expected to have discussion on framework of meetings of the SAARC commerce and finance ministers’ meetings.
It will also deal with implementation of SAFTA and operational framework of the development fund for poverty alleviation, among other things, the minister said.
A special meeting scheduled for an April 11 start in Dhaka would also review the progress of other issues discussed during the 13th SAARC summit in November last year and place a set of recommendations for the council of ministers’ meet sometime in June this year.
The standing committee would look into whether or not SAARC expansion requires modification of the charter although all the top leaders of the bloc endorsed the inclusion of Afghanistan in the regional grouping.
‘They will look into necessary amendments according to requirements…they will also chalk out the criteria for observer status or dialogue partner, whichever it is, as China and Japan have already been accepted to get such status,’ M Morshed Khan, the foreign minister, told reporters at his office on Tuesday.
He said, however, the group had no provision to have new members, and observers or dialogue partners earlier. ‘These things need to be addressed.’
The top South Asian leaders during the 13th SAARC summit ‘welcomed the request by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for membership and invited Afghanistan as a member, subject to the completion of formalities.’
In principle, they also agreed with the desire of the People’s Republic of China and Japan to be associated as observers. The foreign ministers’ meeting will finalise the deal.
Asked whether the standing committee would deal with proposals by a number of Western countries to obtain observer status in the South Asian forum, the foreign minister replied in the negative. ‘These will be dealt with later.’
The United States, Germany and the European Commission have formally asked to become SAARC observer.
Beside these issues, the foreign minister said, the special standing committee is also expected to have discussion on framework of meetings of the SAARC commerce and finance ministers’ meetings.
It will also deal with implementation of SAFTA and operational framework of the development fund for poverty alleviation, among other things, the minister said.
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