1. The Prime Minister of the People's Republic
of Bangladesh, Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina; Chairman, Council
of Ministers and Head of Government of the Royal Government of
Bhutan, His Excellency Lyonpo Jigmi Y. Thinley; the Prime Minister
of the Republic of India, His Excellency Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee;
the President of the Republic of Maldives, His Excellency Mr.
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom; the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Nepal,
Rt. Hon. Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala; the Prime Minister of the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan, His Excellency Mr. Muhammad Nawaz
Sharif; and the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic
of Sri Lanka, Her Excellency Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
met at the Tenth Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC) at Colombo from July 29 to 31, 1998, in the
year of the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Sri Lanka.
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REGIONAL COOPERATION
2. The Heads of State or Government re-affirmed their firm
commitment to the objectives, principles and provisions of the
Charter of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) and to the pursuit of regional cooperation on the basis
of their acceptance of the principles of sovereign equality,
territorial integrity of States, political independence, non-interference
in each others internal affairs, non-use of force, the peaceful
settlement of all disputes and mutuality of benefit.
3. The Heads of State or Government recognised that the rich
potential for productive, equitable regional cooperation among
the Governments and people of South Asia which accounts for
a fifth of humanity should be fully realised.
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CULTURAL UNITY
4. The Heads of State or Government recognized that South Asia,
while reflecting a rich, complex and varied plurality of cultural
and religious traditions, was heir to a profound common civilizational
continuum of great antiquity which constitutes a historical
basis for sustaining harmonious relations among the people of
the region. They acknowledged that the SAARC process could draw
more deeply from the vitality and strength of South Asia's shared
cultural heritage as a source influencing and enhancing creative
energies in all fields.
5. The Heads of State or Government welcomed the offer of Sri
Lanka to host a meeting of the Ministers of Cultural Affairs
of SAARC to prepare a practical Action Plan to network the national
institutes of cultural relations and to establish a South Asian
Cultural Center to promote the distinctive arts of South Asia.
They requested the Government of Sri Lanka to circulate a concept
paper on the issues to be addressed by the meeting including
financing arrangements for the proposed institute.
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ENHANCING POLITICAL COOPERATION
6. The Heads of State or Government reiterated their commitment
to the promotion of mutual trust and understanding and, recognising
that the aims of promoting peace, stability and amity and accelerated
socio-economic cooperation may best be achieved by fostering
good neighbourly relations, relieving tensions and building
confidence, agreed that a process of informal political consultations
would prove useful in this regard. The Heads of State or Government
further recognized that this process would contribute to the
appreciation of each other’s problems and perceptions
as well as for decisive action in agreed areas of regional cooperation.
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APPRAISAL OF SAARC ACTIVITIES
7. The Heads of State or Government continued their review
of the nature, extent, and effectiveness of the cooperative
activities of SAARC. They considered the Report and Recommendations
of the Group of Eminent Persons mandated by the Ninth Summit
in Male' to undertake a comprehensive appraisal of SAARC and
to develop an Agenda for 2000 and beyond. They expressed appreciation
for the Chairman of the Ninth Summit, His Excellency Mr. Maumoon
Abdul Gayoom, the President of the Maldives for convening the
Group of Eminent Persons (GEP) and encouraging them to complete
their work within the time frame given to them by the Ninth
SAARC Summit.
8. The Heads of State or Government directed the Council of
Ministers to examine the Report of the Group of Eminent Persons
in depth at their next Session, taking into consideration the
views of Member States with regard to the viability of the recommendations
and the method of their implementation.
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SAARC IN THE CHANGING INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
9. The Heads of State or Government assessed the implications
of current global economic developments on the economies of
South Asia and other developing countries. They noted the profundity
of the wide-spread changes being effected in the economic, technological,
social and information fields and their apparent unpredictability.
They expressed serious concern over the severe distortions produced
by the process of unrestrained globalisation as has been evidenced
in the downturn of economies of several Asian States. The challenges
and opportunities inherent in these fast evolving developments
could best be met and the full potential of South Asia realized
through effective practical regional and bilateral cooperation
among Member States.
10. They noted that the benefits of the so described "liberalization"
have been disappointingly asymmetrical with the process proceeding
at a much slower pace in areas of special interest to developing
countries. Increased opportunities in trade and investment have
bypassed many developing countries. The Least Developed Countries
have in particular been marginalised through a series of developments
including the shrinking of ODA, concessional and other financial
flows to these countries.
11. The Heads of State or Government noted the initiation of
links between SAARC and economic unions and trading groups that
were emerging in the wake of globalization and liberalization
and considered how best relationships of mutual benefit could
be established.
12. The Heads of State or Government observed that following
the WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva, a process has been
initiated at the WTO where implementation issues, built in agenda
issues, issues arising out of the WTO Ministerial Conference
and other multi-lateral trade issues will be considered with
a view to making recommendations to the next Ministerial Conference
of the WTO in 1999. These issues and the decisions arising from
this process will have far-reaching consequences for our development
strategies and prospects. The Heads of State or Government,
therefore, resolved that SAARC countries would endeavour to
coordinate their decisions on these issues in areas of common
concern so as to protect and promote the interest of the developing
countries. They expressed concern about the erection of protectionist
barriers and the tendency to impose arbitrary "norms"
relating to labour conditions, environmental regulations, governance
and other extraneous issues to regulate trade exchanges, which
would amount to additional non-tariff barriers, that would have
the effect of restricting market access for developing countries
including preferential access by Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
into markets of developed countries. They agreed on the need
for collective strategies to promote a rule-based, non-discriminatory
and equitable international trading system in which the interests
and concerns of developing countries would be fully safeguarded
and served.
13. The Heads of State or Government noted that emerging issues
relating to copyright, patents and marketing franchises including
on foodgrains, plants and herbs indigenous to South Asia require
firm collective responses to preserve these bio-resources from
unregulated commercial exploitation by extra-regional interests.
They emphasized in this regard, the principle of sustainable
development of bio-resources and the provisions of the UN Convention
on Bio-diversity which provided for regulated access to such
resources on terms and conditions to be agreed upon with the
State in which such resources are located.
14. The Heads of State or Government cautioned that potential
efforts to formulate a new Multilateral Investment Agreement
should not overlook the need to ensure the continued independence
of developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
to formulate specific investment policies appropriate to their
stage of development.
15. While reviewing the beneficial effects of globalization,
the Heads of State or Government stressed the fact that systemic
crises are becoming unpredictable with increased globalization.
They expressed their concern about the shortcomings of the international
monetary and financial system, and its tardiness in anticipating
impending financial market crises sufficiently in advance, so
that pre-emptive remedial action be adopted. They noted that
the problem is systemic, and not unique to Asia, nor confined
to emerging economies, and that it can have global ramifications,
unless more fundamental reforms are put in place.
16. They recognized the risk that ad-hoc approaches, however
prompt, once crises supervene, may lead to excessive social
costs in the attempt to restore financial discipline. More effective
social safety nets would, therefore, need to be devised for
protecting vulnerable groups and a more appropriate balance
between financing and adjustment found in a reformed international
system or architecture, if both the economic and social aspirations
of SAARC countries are to be realized. They acknowledged the
need to strengthen the individual financial systems of SAARC
countries through enhancing institutional capacity, surveillance
mechanisms as well as through closer consultations on, and coordination
of macro-economic policies where appropriate.
17. The Heads of State or Government recognized that notwithstanding
all national and regional endeavours for economic development
and financial stability, the pervasive global economic environment
continued to exert a major, sometimes negative influence on
the outcome of these endeavours.
18. Against this background of the need to address systemic
issues, they agreed on the vital imperative for strengthened
cooperation among SAARC Members to identify, analyze and effectively
contend with the complex multi-faceted challenges inherent in
the global economic environment that is changing so radically,
particularly in this last decade preceding the new millennium.
They acknowledged the need to enhance the collective capacity
of SAARC in respect of policy analysis, with a specific emphasis
on international financial, monetary, trade and investment issues
and their domestic ramifications.
19. The Heads of State or Government also expressed their abhorrence
over the practice of imposition of unilateral coercive economic
measures as an instrument of policy against developing countries.
They called for their immediate cessation.
20. They stressed the need for more efficient capacity building
to enable informed decision-making in these areas to enable
innovative collective intervention to safeguard South Asian
interests in international negotiations, as well as to develop
some edge for effective leverage in such negotiations. The Heads
of State or Government agreed on the urgent need for harnessing
the rich intellectual and resource capacity of South Asia for
this purpose.
21. The Heads of State or Government requested Sri Lanka, as
Chairperson of the 10th Summit, to conduct consultations with
Member States for the convening of a network of researchers
comprising members of the Private Sector, Central Banks, Planning
Ministries, Research Institutes and eminent economists nominated
by Governments to identify, analyse and help SAARC faced up
to current global, financial and economic developments affecting
the region. They requested Sri Lanka to co-ordinate on necessary
practical measures while keeping Member States informed in the
matter. Heads of State or Government welcomed the offer of Sri
Lanka to host a meeting in Colombo of representatives of SAARC,
nominated by their Governments to study the matter further and
report with practical recommendations on the matter in advance
of the 21st Session of the Council of Ministers to facilitate
early decisions.
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ACCELERATION OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION
22. The Heads of State or Government assessed progress made
in the two rounds of negotiations already undertaken under SAPTA.
They decided that the third round should be concluded well before
the Twenty-first Session of the Council of Ministers. The Heads
of State or Government decided that to accelerate progress in
the next round of SAPTA negotiations, deeper preferential tariff
concessions should be extended to products which are being actively
traded, or are likely to be traded, among Members; that discriminatory
practices and non-tariff barriers should be simultaneously removed
on items in respect of which tariff concessions are granted
or have been granted earlier. Measures to remove structural
impediments should also be taken in order to move speedily towards
the goal of SAFTA. They also directed that domestic content
requirements under SAPTA Rules of Origin should be reduced and
that the SAPTA Committee of Participants should meet by mid-October
’98 in Colombo to finalise the extent of reduction in
keeping with the decision of the Second SAARC Commerce Ministers'
Meeting. The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed that measures
to enable smaller and Least Developed Countries to benefit equitably
from economic liberalization were specially important.
23. The Heads of State or Government reiterated the importance
of achieving SAFTA as mandated by the Ninth SAARC Summit. To
this end they decided that a Committee of Experts, in consultation
with Member States, be constituted with specific Terms of Reference
(TOR) to work on drafting a comprehensive treaty regime for
creating a free trade area. The Heads of State or Government
expressed the view that such a treaty must incorporate, among
other things, binding time-frames for freeing trade, measures
to facilitate trade, and provisions to ensure an equitable distribution
of benefits of trade to all states, especially for smaller and
least developed countries, including mechanisms for compensation
of revenue loss. They emphasised the importance of finalising
the text of the regulatory framework by the year 2001.
24. The Heads of State or Government agreed that the benefits
of economic liberalization would be more extensive and better
balanced through the promotion of trade- creating joint ventures,
investment and trade in services such as tourism.
25. The Heads of State or Government noted with satisfaction
the outcome of the Second Meeting of the SAARC Commerce Ministers
in Islamabad and welcomed their decision to coordinate SAARC's
position on issues of common concern at the WTO. They welcomed
in this connection the Declaration issued by the SAARC Commerce
Ministers on the eve of the Second WTO Ministerial Meeting in
Geneva, setting out a SAARC approach on these issues. Recognizing
that critical issues would be decided at the Third WTO Ministerial
Conference in the USA in 1999, the Heads of State or Government
urged SAARC Commerce Ministers to work closely with a view to
evolving better co-ordinated positions on all issues. They directed
the Consultative Group of SAARC Permanent Representatives to
the WTO at Geneva to consult closely with like-minded countries
to advance the interests of developing countries at all WTO
Conferences.
26. The Heads of State or Government noted the progress made
in preparations for the Second SAARC Trade Fair to be held in
Sri Lanka from September 8-15, 1998. The Heads of State or Government
welcomed the offer of Bangladesh to host the Third Meeting of
SAARC Commerce Ministers in 1999 and the offer of Pakistan to
stage the Third SAARC Trade Fair in 1999.
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PEOPLE TO PEOPLE CONTACT
27. The Heads of State or Government noted arrangements being
finalized by Sri Lanka to host the First SAARC Film Festival
in Colombo in 1998 in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary
of the Independence of Sri Lanka.
28. The Heads of State or Government stressed that more convenient
travel connections between SAARC countries were essential to
facilitate fruitful interaction among people in the region,
in particular, professional groups, creative artistes, pilgrims
and journalists.
29. The Heads of State or Government considered means of encouraging
more productive co-operation and collaboration between governments
and the private sectors, including in the commissioning of studies
relating to regional economic interaction.
30. They welcomed the contribution made by the SAARC Chamber
of Commerce and Industry in facilitating the engagement of the
private sector in regional economic interaction as well as initiating
linkages with other regions for the purpose of promoting SAARC
exports. The Heads of State or Government noted that a document
entitled "Road Map to SAFTA" was presented by the
President of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI)
to the Chairperson of the Twentieth Session of the Council of
Ministers.
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LINKS WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
31. The Heads of State or Government noted links initiated
between SAARC and other international and regional organizations.
They considered the prospects for the development of SAARC projects
and programmes in association with such organizations with which
SAARC has cooperative arrangements as well as through other
forms of cooperation. The Heads of State or Government were
of the view that priority needs to be given in establishing
contact with those regional groupings which have experience
in economic cooperation and functional regional cooperation.
32. The Heads of State or Government also noted proposals for
developing cooperation between SAARC and individual States outside
the region. They requested the Council of Ministers to consider
such proposals with a view to developing such contacts on the
basis of mutual benefit and for the advancement of SAARC objectives.
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PROJECTION OF COMMON POSITIONS
33. The Heads of State or Government reiterated their resolve
to promote the articulation of joint positions at the United
Nations and other fora where such action would be in the clear
interest of all members of the Association.
SUB-REGIONAL COOPERATION
34. With the objective of enhancing regional solidarity and
promoting overall development within SAARC, the Heads of State
or Government encouraged the development of specific projects
relevant to the individual needs of three or more Member States
under the provisions of Articles VII and X of the Charter.
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SECURITY OF SMALL STATES
35. The Heads of State or Government recognized that due to
their particular vulnerability, small States require special
measures of support from the international community for the
safeguarding of their sovereign independence and territorial
integrity. They reiterated that real protection of small States
should be firmly rooted in scrupulous adherence to the UN Charter,
the rule of law and strict adherence to universally accepted
principles and norms related to sovereign rights and territorial
integrity of all States irrespective of size. This, they stressed
should be ensured by all the countries either severally or collectively
through the pursuit of appropriate action.
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SPECIAL MEASURES FOR LEAST DEVELOPED AND LAND-LOCKED COUNTRIES
36. The Heads of State or Government emphasised the need for
priority action on various international development commitments,
such as the Paris Declaration and the Programme of Action for
LDCs for the 1990s.
37. While noting with deep concern that economic growth in
the Least Developed and Land-Locked Countries is not progressing
well, the Heads of State or Government stressed the need to
take special measures for accelerating the process of development.
They emphasised the need to fulfil the internationally agreed
aid targets for ensuring accelerated and sustained economic
growth in developing countries particularly in the Least Developed
Countries. They stressed on the need for adequate resources
to facilitate implementation of economic reform programmes in
SAARC countries.
38. The Heads of State or Government emphasised that the review
of the criteria for the determination of LDC status for consideration
by the United Nations General Assembly this year, must take
into account the special significance of the extent and magnitude
of incidence of poverty in the poorest countries and the special
vulnerabilities of small island states.
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EDUCATION AND LITERACY
39. The Heads of State or Government were in agreement that
illiteracy was a major impediment to economic development and
social emancipation and that the eradication of illiteracy in
the Region including through co-operative endeavours within
SAARC must continue to be pursued resolutely.
40. The Heads of State or Government noted that the concepts
of Open Learning and Distance Education could help substantially
towards equal opportunities and access to knowledge. The Heads
of State or Government directed that SAARC should build on the
substantial expertise already existing in the Region in the
field of open education, by establishing a SAARC Forum of Vice
Chancellors of Open Universities. This Forum, consisting of
regional leaders in the field, should strengthen cooperation
in areas such as the sharing and joint development of programmes,
credit transfers for specific programmes and the translation
of existing programmes.
41. The Heads of State or Government urged the Forum, to spearhead
the development of distance education outside the Open University
System as well, drawing on the advances in Information Technology,
to reach out to the remote and under-privileged sections. They
welcomed the offer of Sri Lanka to host a meeting of Vice-Chancellors
of SAARC Open Universities during the last quarter of 1998 to
discuss the modalities for the establishment of the Forum and
to draw up a programme to achieve the objectives identified
by the Heads of State or Government. The Heads of State or Government
requested the Forum to report to the Standing Committee on a
continuous basis on its programmes.
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ERADICATION OF POVERTY IN SOUTH ASIA
42. The Heads of State or Government reiterated the commitment
of SAARC to the eradication of poverty in the Region at the
earliest possible, preferably by the year 2002. They emphasised
the need to encourage maximum participation by target groups
in the formulation and implementation of poverty eradication
programmes. The Heads of State or Government were of the view
that such participation is essential for success of efforts
in this field. They stressed the need for effective utilisation
of the SAARC Three-Tier Mechanism on Poverty Eradication and
in that context welcomed the offer of the Government of Pakistan
to host the next meeting of the SAARC Finance/Planning Ministers
under the Mechanism in October 1998.
43. The Heads of State or Government noted that the South Asian
countries have provided leadership in developing and implementing
Micro Credit Programmes, which have immense potential to contribute
to the eradication of poverty. They were of the view that their
respective programmes in this regard have proven to be effective
and Member States would benefit by sharing experiences and exchanging
information and expertise in this important area.
44. The Heads of State or Government noted that Human Resource
Development is a key element in any poverty eradication programme.
The Heads of State or Government, therefore, agreed that once
the SAARC Centre for Human Resource Development in Islamabad
is established, it could look in to the possibility of its contributing
to the strengthening of the human resource development components
of the regional poverty eradication programmes.
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SOCIAL CHARTER
45. The Heads of State or Government reviewed the progress
made in the social sector by SAARC and determined that, in order
to increase effectiveness, it would be necessary to develop,
beyond national plans of action, a regional dimension of action
including a specific role for SAARC. In this context, they agreed
that it would be necessary for SAARC to develop a Social Charter,
which would focus on drawing up targets with a broad range to
be achieved across the region in the areas of poverty eradication,
population stabilisation, the empowerment of women, youth mobilisation,
human resource development, the promotion of health and nutrition
and the protection of children. The Heads of State or Government
further directed the Council of Ministers to initiate work on
drawing up a Social Charter.
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COMMUNICATIONS
46. The Heads of State or Government welcomed the results of
the First Conference of SAARC Communication Ministers held in
Colombo in May, 1998. They noted that technological advances
were making telecommunications an important medium for socio-economic
development and developing commercial and business relations
as well as promotion of people-to-people contact. They called
for the speedy implementation of the Plan of Action adopted
by the First Meeting of the SAARC Communication Ministers.
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TOURISM
47. The Heads of State or Government recognized that further
efforts were required for South Asia to effectively tap the
economic potential afforded by the global tourist industry as
well as to encourage intra-SAARC tourism. They welcomed the
convening of the First SAARC Tourism Ministers' Meeting in Colombo
as a step towards this end and called for the effective implementation
of its decisions, including the encouragement of active private
sector participation in the promotion of tourism, both intra-regionally
and internationally, simplification of visa-procedures for tourists
and pilgrims, more convenient air and other travel links among
SAARC countries including special regional fares and the co-ordination
of activities of tour operators.
48. The Heads of State or Government identified the need to
strengthen the existing air services between their respective
Capitals, with a view to both facilitating tourism as well as
people to people contacts. They called in this regard, for an
early meeting of the Chairpersons/Chief Executive Officers of
the national air lines.
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
49. The Heads of State or Government noted that the development
of a regional self-reliance capability for South Asia in scientific
research and development was essential, given a global context
in which barriers to the free flow of technology still remained
in place. The Heads of State or Government appreciated the efforts
to foster under the SAARC umbrella, collective co-operation
in this field.
50. The Heads of State or Government welcomed the offer by
the Government of India to hold a Special Meeting of SAARC Science
and Technology Ministers to consider a SAARC Technology Initiative
to Identify and implement specific regional projects in rural
areas which would have the direct impact in improving the day-to-day
life of people there. Such an initiative could include rural
telecommunications, drinking water and sanitation and improvement
of life standards.
51. The Heads of State or Government reiterated their earlier
call for the effective and rapid institutionalization of SAARC
co-operation in the field of bio-technology. They pointed out
that South Asia with its vast reservoir of bio-diversity and
tropical climate, has substantial potential for bio-industry
development on a sustainable basis. Many of the food and nutritional
needs of the SAARC region could be met by the application of
bio-technology. Contemporary developments in intellectual property
and patent law, moreover, heightened the need for vigilance
against encroachment on the regional bio-diversity heritage
by external entities.
52. The Heads of State or Government accordingly requested
the Standing Committee, with assistance of the SAARC Secretariat,
to report to the forthcoming Twenty-First Session of the Council
of Ministers on practical and cost effective measures towards
rapidly operationalising SAARC cooperation in bio-technology.
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ENVIRONMENT
53. The Heads of State or Government expressed their deep satisfaction
at the positive outcome of the Environment Ministers’
Conference held in Malé in October 1997, and called for
the effective and early implementation of the SAARC Environment
Action Plan. In this context, they welcomed the offer of Maldives
to prepare a feasibility study on the establishment of a Coastal
Zone Management Centre. The Heads of State or Government also
committed their governments to prepare National Environment
Action Plans and State of the Environment Reports before the
end of 1998.
54. The Heads of State or Government expressed their satisfaction
over the adoption of a common position by Member States prior
to the Third Session of the Conference of the Parties to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held
in Kyoto, Japan and welcomed the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol
to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
in December 1997, and underscored the importance of the Protocol
for the protection of the climate system. They urged all industrial
countries to ratify the Protocol and to undertake urgent and
effective steps to implement the commitments undertaken by them
to reduce their emissions of green-house gases.
55. The Heads of State or Government also emphasised the need
for complementary action by organisations and institutions in
the region in their efforts to protect the environment and achieve
sustainable development in the region.
56. The Heads of State or Government noted that the SAARC Environment
Ministers would be meeting in Sri Lanka in late 1998. They urged
that the Ministers should at this forthcoming meeting also mandate
any specific measures required for SAARC to further strengthen
cooperation on environment issues, with other international
or regional organizations engaged in the same field.
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YOUTH
57. The Heads of State or Government affirmed the importance
they attached to providing adequate opportunities to youth in
South Asia to participate productively in national development
and underscored the need for developing programmes in this regard
at the national and regional levels.
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CHILDREN
58. Recalling targets and objectives set out in the Rawalpindi
Declaration of 1996, the Heads of State or Government noted
that the 1997 Review of the Situation of Children in South Asia
had revealed progress in the reduction of infant mortality and
increased coverage of immunization programmes. They stressed,
however, that continued efforts required to be sustained in
these areas. Serious efforts were also required in respect of
education for all children and the reduction of gender disparities.
In addition to national programmes, the Heads of State or Government
called for the identification of practical regional programmes
which could benefit from cooperation with relevant regional
and international organisations with which SAARC has cooperative
arrangements for the promotion of the welfare of children.
59. The Heads of State or Government condemned the exploitation
of children by terrorist groups in hostilities and called for
special measures for the psychological, physical and social
rehabilitation of child victims. In this respect, the Heads
of State or Government noted the initiative taken by Maldives
in pursuance of their directive at the Ninth SAARC Summit in
drafting the Convention on Regional Arrangements for the Promotion
of Child Welfare in South Asia. They welcomed the offer of Maldives
to hold an Expert Group Meeting to finalise the draft Convention
for its adoption at the Eleventh SAARC Summit.
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SITUATION OF WOMEN AND THE GIRL CHILD
60. The Heads of State or Government noted that many groups
of women and girl children in South Asia continue to be in disadvantaged
positions and lack equal opportunities for economic and social
development. They were of the view that sustained efforts and
practical affirmative action was required to offset the effects
of discriminatory, social and psychological perceptions and
to empower women through affirmative action, including where
necessary, legislative measures. The Heads of State or Government
condemned in particular violence against women and acts of discrimination
and humiliation which tend to depress the status of women. They
also expressed concern over the plight of women and girl children
in situations of conflict. Equal opportunities in education,
health facilities and nutrition were vital for the integration
of women in the mainstream of national development. They agreed
to work in close association, where possible, with professional
and other women's groups in the region to ameliorate their conditions.
61. The Heads of State or Government recalled that the Ninth
SAARC Summit expressed concern at the trafficking of women and
children within and between countries and pledged to coordinate
efforts of Member States to take effective measures to address
this problem. In this context, they welcomed the finalisation
of the draft text on the Regional Convention on Combating the
Crime of Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution
and noted that this would be a vital instrument in dealing with
this problem. They approved that the Convention be signed at
the Eleventh SAARC Summit.
62. The Heads of State or Government also recommended that
the feasibility of establishing a Regional Fund for Rehabilitation
of Victims of Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution
on a voluntary basis may be explored.
63. The Heads of State or Government were also of the view
t