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| Wednesday, 7 January 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| SAARC vows to crush terrorism President's stand endorsed Uditha Kumarasinghe reporting from Islamabad The Islamabad Declaration unanimously adopted and approved by the leaders of the seven SAARC nations at the conclusion of the 12th SAARC Summit at the Jinnah Convention Centre condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and noted that people in South Asia continued to face a serious threat from terrorism. The seven leaders signed an additional protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention to combat terrorism and to deal effectively on financing terrorism and pledged with determination to eliminate all forms and manifestation of terrorism from South Asia. The unanimous approval of the leaders of SAARC nations yesterday was a distinct and clear endorsement of the stand taken by Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at the 11th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu where she called for a process to suppress terrorism in the South Asian region. She also urged The Kathmandu Summit to sign an additional protocol to tackle terrorist funding in the region. The declaration that envisioned a peaceful and prosperous South Asia laid key emphasis on promoting peace, stability, amity and progress in the region through strict adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter and Non-Alignment, with particular respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity and national independence of states. The declaration has given priority to several key spheres that included economic, poverty alleviation, science and technology, environment, cultural, inter-regional cooperation, enhancing political cooperation and to combat terrorism. Under the economic sector, the declaration is to renew its commitment to the objectives and principles of SAARC and pledged to reinvigorate cooperation to materialise peace, amity and prosperity of all peoples of South Asia. The declaration has emphasised as the signing of the Framework Agreement on SAFTA as a major milestone towards moves of broadening of economic cooperation to ensure equitable distribution of benefits of trade to cater to the special needs of the small and LDC Member States to provid them special and differential treatment. It has recognised poverty alleviation as the greatest challenge facing the peoples of South Asia and declared poverty alleviation as the overarching goal of all SAARC activities. The declaration spot lighted that the reconstituted Independent South Asian Commission for Poverty Alleviation has done commendable work in that regard. The Islamabad Declaration has condemned terrorist violence in all its forms and manifestations and note that people of South Asia continue to face a serious threat from terrorism. The declaration states" The signing of the Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention on Combating Terrorism to deal effectively with financing of terrorism is a further manifestation of determination to eliminate all forms and manifestations of terrorism from South Asia. The declaration has recognised the importance of informal political consultations in promoting mutual understanding and reinforcing confidence building process among member States. The declaration emphasised that Asia should be a peaceful and stable region where each nation is at peace and address their disputes through peaceful means and dialogue. The declaration express determination to develop mutually beneficial links between SAARC and other regional and international organisations and agree to establish dialogue partnership with other regional bodies and with states outside the region, interested in SAARC activities. Islamabad Declaration has identified the signing of the SAARC Social Charter as a historic development which would have a far-reaching impact on the lives of millions of South Asians. Issues covered under the charter such as poverty alleviation, population stabilization, empowerment of women, youth mobilization, human resource development, promotion of health and nutrition and protection of children have been given priority. |
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