SAARC Standing Committee begins deliberations today

Rajmi MANATUNGA

COLOMBO: The Standing Committee of the 15th SAARC summit constituting Foreign Secretaries of the eight Member States will commence deliberations today on the key issues to be taken up at the main Summit to be held from August 2 to 3.

At today’s meeting which will be its 35th session, the Standing Committee will continue discussions launched by the Programming Committee on core issues to be placed on the agenda of the Heads of States Summit including joint measures to combat terrorism, poverty alleviation and food security.

The proceedings of the Committee will be opened by the Indian Foreign Secretary, following which Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona will be elected as its new Chairman.

The SAARC Programming Committee concluded its deliberations yesterday with discussions on the draft Declaration for this year’s Summit, which followed Sunday’s discussion of agenda items. The meeting of Foreign Ministers of the eight countries will be the next event on the SAARC agenda after the Standing Committee session.