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14368
Wed, 07/30/2008 - 11:50
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Terrorism likely to dominate SAARC Summit
T. V. Sriram Colombo, Jul 30 (PTI) Against the backdrop of the serial blasts in India and unrest in Sri Lanka's north and Pakistan's tribal belt, the menace of terrorism is likely to dominate the agenda of the upcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit here apart from the keyissues of food security, climate change and energy crisis.
The two day SAARC-related deliberations among top officials of the member states, which concluded Monday, gave priority to the four issues of food security, energy crisis,terrorism and climate, according to officials.
"The recent terror related incidents in India, the war against terror in Sri Lanka and problems in Pakistan could bring up the issue of terrorism to the centre stage though other important issues would also be discussed in detail," atop official said here.
The SAARC summit, is also likely to be discussed theexpansion of the regional grouping.
The military-ruled Myanmar has already requested for membership of the South Asian grouping. Besides, Australia has also approached the SAARC secretariat to give it an observerstatus.
The representations from Australia and Myanmar could beconsidered at the summit, officials said.
Meanwhile, a foreign ministry official said that the SAARC commenced its meeting, with Sri Lanka taking the chairfrom India.
On President Mahinda Rajapaksa assuming the chair as the head of the SAARC, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said his appointment would pave way for findingsolutions to issues with common interest for the region.
The officials are reported to have prepared comprehensive agreements pertaining to the four issues, which will be signed by the regional leaders when they meet at the summit on August2nd and 3rd.
Meanwhile, Grace Asirwatham, Director General of SAARC and the Foreign Ministry's South Asia wing, took charge of the 33rd session of the Programming Committee from Indian jointsecretary Kheya Battachariya, Foreign Ministry sources said.
This year's SAARC summit is being held under the theme of 'Partnership for our people' and will also focus on launch of the SAARC Development Fund, establishing a South Asian Regional Standards Organization, and increasing cooperationamong SAARC nations with regard to criminal offences.
The SAARC's official level discussions also focused on common obstacles that South Asian countries face in public transportation services and measures that should be adopted toimprove the quality of the same, according to officials.
The SAARC came into existence in 1985 as a seven-member organisation with Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as the founding members. In 2007,Afghanistan was inducted as the eighth member.
The main aim of the regional association is to realize the goal of raising the living standard of the region's poverty stricken people, among other things. PTI T
The two day SAARC-related deliberations among top officials of the member states, which concluded Monday, gave priority to the four issues of food security, energy crisis,terrorism and climate, according to officials.
"The recent terror related incidents in India, the war against terror in Sri Lanka and problems in Pakistan could bring up the issue of terrorism to the centre stage though other important issues would also be discussed in detail," atop official said here.
The SAARC summit, is also likely to be discussed theexpansion of the regional grouping.
The military-ruled Myanmar has already requested for membership of the South Asian grouping. Besides, Australia has also approached the SAARC secretariat to give it an observerstatus.
The representations from Australia and Myanmar could beconsidered at the summit, officials said.
Meanwhile, a foreign ministry official said that the SAARC commenced its meeting, with Sri Lanka taking the chairfrom India.
On President Mahinda Rajapaksa assuming the chair as the head of the SAARC, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said his appointment would pave way for findingsolutions to issues with common interest for the region.
The officials are reported to have prepared comprehensive agreements pertaining to the four issues, which will be signed by the regional leaders when they meet at the summit on August2nd and 3rd.
Meanwhile, Grace Asirwatham, Director General of SAARC and the Foreign Ministry's South Asia wing, took charge of the 33rd session of the Programming Committee from Indian jointsecretary Kheya Battachariya, Foreign Ministry sources said.
This year's SAARC summit is being held under the theme of 'Partnership for our people' and will also focus on launch of the SAARC Development Fund, establishing a South Asian Regional Standards Organization, and increasing cooperationamong SAARC nations with regard to criminal offences.
The SAARC's official level discussions also focused on common obstacles that South Asian countries face in public transportation services and measures that should be adopted toimprove the quality of the same, according to officials.
The SAARC came into existence in 1985 as a seven-member organisation with Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as the founding members. In 2007,Afghanistan was inducted as the eighth member.
The main aim of the regional association is to realize the goal of raising the living standard of the region's poverty stricken people, among other things. PTI T
