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12th SAARC Summit call :

For spirit of friendship, trust and understanding in S. Asia

by Chandani Jayatilleke

Pakistan will assume the SAARC Chair when the 12th SAARC Summit gets underway in Islamabad on January 4. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation was set up when its Charter was adopted on December 8, 1985 by the Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.


A Pakistani worker jumps off a steel globe sculpture he is working on near the convention centre in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad December 28, 2003. The sculpture is being built for the upcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit to be held in Islamabad from January 4-6. Representatives from the seven-member countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, are scheduled to attend the three-day summit. REUTERS

The Association provides a platform for the people of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. It aims to promote the welfare of the people in the region and to improve their quality of life through accelerated economic growth, social progress and cultural development in member states.

Since its inception in 1985, Pakistan has been playing a major role in this organisation, contributing a great share to the development of inter-regional coorperation among SAARC nations in many different ways. Islamabad, Pakistan's capital with a population of about 951 million will host the 12th SAARC Summit from January 4 to 6. In this context, the country has made elaborate arrangements to welcome the official delegates from the member countries and tightened security efforts following two assassination attempts on Pakistani President Pervez Musharaff this month.

However, the SAARC nations expect that this Summit will be different from the earlier Summits in the light of improved relations between Pakistan and India following the current ceasefire between the two nations. Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is due to come face-to-face with President Musharaff for the first time in two years.

Political and diplomatic experts believe that the upcoming summit will revive the functioning of SAARC which was delayed due to worsening Indo-Pak relations.

In this interview Deputy High Commissioner and Counsellor of the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo, Tanveer A. Khaskheli explains the SAARC's agenda in this summit, SAARC's future and ways to improve economic and cultural cooperation among SAARC nations. Following are the excerpts:

Question: What is the role Pakistan is playing with regard to the forthcoming SAARC heads of state Summit? What kind of arrangements has it made so far?

A: Pakistan as you know, is a founder member of the SAARC and it has been actively engaged in SAARC activities throughout the years. Pakistan has been ready to host this event since 2002. The Government is very keen to hold the Summit in Islamabad and warmly welcome all delegates. This is the second time the Pakistan is hosting a SAARC Summit. (Personally I have fond memories in arranging the earlier Summit as I got the opportunity to work with former heads of state such as the late J.R. Jayewardene and Rajiv Gandhi).

All countries have confirmed the attendance of their delegations and heads of state. The conference will be held in three stages: the committee meeting for Secretaries, Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the heads of State Summit. If any delegate requires a special meeting with their counterparts within the SAARC that will also be arranged, in the sidelines.

As far as the facilities are concerned, we have made excellent convention arrangements and accommodation for delegates and heads of state. Security measures have also been tightened with a large number of troops being deployed for the job.

Q. How important is SAARC to Pakistan?

A: We are one of the active members of SAARC and we consider SAARC as a major organisation where South Asian leaders get to meet and discuss regional issues. As an economic forum, SAARC is very important to us to promote trade activities in the region. The potential for improving trade within the region is vast, but not tapped to its full potential. This is a sad situation. SAARC is an organisation which has the capacity to put South Asia on the map of the world in terms of economic cooperation, bilateral trade and diplomatic relations. Therefore, we should all work hard to get the best out of this organisation.

Q: What is the theme of the SAARC Summit this year? What subjects will be taken up for discussion?

A: The Summit this year will discuss a report on poverty alleviation - poverty is one of the major issues taken up at every Summit. For this preparatory work has been done by all the countries during a meeting held in Katmandu, Nepal. Secondly, the Summit will focus on the proposed South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA). Among the other topics will be suppressing terrorism, narcotics, trafficking in women and children.

Q. It's no secret that due to differences between India and Pakistan certain goals set out in the SAARC charter could not be achieved in the past. Now there is peace (a ceasefire in operation) between the two nations. In the light of these developments, how would you see the future of SAARC?

A: We regret the fact that SAARC has been hostage to Indo/Pak relations. We hope because of our relations, the organisation would not suffer.

Q: How should the SAARC nations work or plan out strategies to combat terrorism in the region?

A: We can go by our own experiences to combat terrorism in the region. We - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and now Nepal have experienced the most dangerous terrorism activities and we have survived. We need to put a concerted effort where it is necessary to fail terrorism.

Q: As far as the poverty in the region is concerned, what could SAARC nations do to alleviate poverty?

A: Poverty is one of the main issues in this region. We need to change this situation, not by overnight. But it should be done gradually. In fact the SAARC has put a lot of effort to address this issue so far.

According to the World Bank the region remains one of the most disadvantaged in the world. More than 40% of its 1.4 billion people live on less than one US dollar a day, making South Asia home to nearly half of the world's poor, says the WB report.

Q: What role could Sri Lanka play in support of SAARC's objectives in the future?

A: Sri Lanka has been playing a major role to revive SAARC and take it forward as a regional group. It was Sri Lanka that initiated the free trade concept in the region and it has also got into a free trade agreement with India. We have seen it working very well in the past. I think, Sri Lanka's inputs and ideas can do a lot to the organisation.

Q: As far as economic relations are concerned, what do SAARC nations do to improve the region's (within and outside the region) trade and exports?

A: Unfortunately, it is less than 5percent of trade we do as a region. We do import goods from far away countries at exorbitant charges when we have the opportunity to get the same in the region itself.

For instance, Pakistan has some of the best surgical equipment and it also supply goods for brands such as Adidas and Puma and Sri Lanka is famous for its tea and finished garments. But within the region these products has less demand. This is not a favourable situation. We need to do more business within the region.

Another aspect is regional tourism. People know of religious tourism in Nepal and India. Only a few people in the region would know of Pakistan's tourism potential and its Buddhist heritage. Pakistan has one of the best collections of Buddha statues. SAARC can promote tourism as a whole. There's so much variety in this region. We have everything from snowy mountains, deserts to long-stretched sunny beaches. Sri Lanka also has excellent tourism locations. Though, SAARC has done several programs to promote its cultural and tourism potential, it has not been sufficient.

Q: How do you describe bilateral, trade and diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka?

A: Well.. Sri Lanka and Pakistan have been enjoying excellent relations as far as bilateral and diplomatic relations are concerned. Sri Lanka has come forward to support Pakistan when ever we were in a bad shape and we appreciate this.

Q: What are the areas we could take seriously for further improvement?

A: Bilateral trade certainly needs further improvement. There are many areas which we could develop together for the benefit of both nations. At present the trade balance between the two countries in favour of Pakistan. We import betel and rubber from Sri Lanka. But, in my view, tea is an untapped market.

Though Sri Lanka is the largest exporter of tea in the world, its tea exports to Pakistan is insignificant.

Q: What about exchanging investment missions?

A: We need to organise more delegations to visit both countries. Through these exchanges, we can create more business contacts. For instance, there are several business areas such as textiles and linen, agriculture and automobile and tea which we could consider for joint ventures.

Q: How do you see Pakistan/Sri Lanka relations in the near future?

A: Very positive to be exact. Through improved and convenient airline facilities, our countries have got closer. From January 1, Pakistan International Airlines would resume flights to Colombo. SriLankan Airlines is already operating flights to Pakistan. These facilities would bring more people-to-people contact which is the most important in building economic coorporation.

We are also looking forward to signing a Free Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka. We have already completed about 85% of the negative list (unofficially). A few areas has been left out as 'give and take' areas which needs further discussions.

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