Twelfth SAARC Summit, Islamabad
We, the Prime Minister of the People's Republic
of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom
of Bhutan, Lyonpo Jigmi Yoezer Thinley, the Prime Minister of the
Republic of India, Atal Behari Vajpayee, the President of the Republic
of Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom
of Nepal, Surya Bahadur Thapa, the Prime Minister of the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and the President
of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranaike
Kumaratunga:
Having met at the Twelfth Summit meeting of the South Asian Association
for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Islamabad, Pakistan on 4-6 January
2004;
Guided by the vision of a peaceful and prosperous South Asia and
proud of its rich culture and traditions;
Deeply conscious of the growing interdependence within and amongst
nations and regions in an increasingly globalizing world;
Desirous of promoting peace, stability, amity and progress in the
region through strict adherence to the principles of the United
Nations Charter and Non-Alignment, particularly respect for the
principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, national
independence, non-use of force and non-interference in the internal
affairs of the states and peaceful settlement of all disputes;
Reaffirming the centrality of SAARC for promoting regional cooperation
and emphasizing the need to enhance its efficacy;
Strongly reaffirming our commitment to the objectives, principles
and provisions of the Charter of the South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC);
Declare that:
Regional Cooperation
Economic
1. We renew our commitment to the objectives and principles of
SAARC and pledge to reinvigorate cooperation to realize peace, amity,
progress and prosperity of all peoples of South Asia.
2. We affirm our determination to create an inclusive, just and
equitable partnership for peace, development and prosperity. Satisfactory
progress has been made in the SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement
(SAPTA). The signing of the Framework Agreement on the South Asian
Free Trade Area (SAFTA) is a major milestone. It is important to
maintain this momentum and move towards further broadening of economic
cooperation and to ensure equitable distribution of benefits of
trade and cater to the special needs of the small and LDC Member
States by providing them special and deferential treatment.
3. We reiterate our commitment made at the 11th SAARC Summit at
Kathmandu in January 2002 for the creation of a South Asian Economic
Union. In this context, we underline that creation of a suitable
political and economic environment would be conducive to the realization
of this objective.
4. A study on creating a South Asian Energy Cooperation including
the concept of an Energy Ring should be undertaken by the Working
Group on Energy.
5. For accelerated and balanced economic growth it is essential
to strengthen transportation, transit and communication links across
the region.
6. Public and private sector cooperation, particularly joint ventures,
holds great promise. It is important to move towards project cooperation
under SAARC. Prospects for setting up of a South Asian Development
Bank should be examined by the SAARCFINANCE and report through the
Council of Ministers.
7. Priority attention should also be given to the need for harmonization
of standards, simplification of custom procedures, as well as cooperation
among the central banks.
8. Development of tourism within South Asia could bring economic,
social and cultural dividends. There is a need for increasing cooperation
to jointly promote tourism within South Asia as well as to promote
South Asia as a tourism destination, inter alia, by improved air
links. To achieve this and to commemorate the twentieth year of
the establishment of SAARC, the year 2005 is designated as "South
Asia Tourism Year", for the success of which, each member would
individually and jointly organize special events.
9. SAARC members should continue to safeguard their collective
interests in multilateral forums by discussing, coordinating and
exchanging information with a view to adopting common positions,
where appropriate, on various issues.
Poverty Alleviation
10. We recognise poverty alleviation as the greatest challenge
facing the peoples of South Asia and declare poverty alleviation
as the overarching goal of all SAARC activities. It is imperative
to relate regional cooperation to the actual needs of the people.
11. Provision of basic needs, promotion of literacy, and better
health care are regional priorities. It is important to undertake
effective and sustained poverty reduction programmes through pro-poor
growth strategies and other policy interventions with specific sectoral
targets.
12. The Plan of Action on Poverty Alleviation, prepared by the
meeting of Finance and Planning Ministers in Islamabad in 2002,
is hereby approved.
13. The reconstituted Independent South Asian Commission for Poverty
Alleviation (ISACPA) has done commendable work. An effective strategy
should be devised to implement suggestions made in its Report "Our
Future Our Responsibility". In this context, ISACPA should
continue in an advocacy role. It should prepare and submit to the
next SAARC summit a comprehensive and realistic blue-print setting
out SAARC Development Goals for the next five years in the areas
of poverty alleviation, education, health and environment giving
due regard, among others, to the suggestions made in the ISACPA
report.
14. The SAARC Secretariat should periodically update and submit
Regional Poverty Profiles.
15. SAARC should continue to collaborate with international organizations
and UN agencies in the field of poverty alleviation. Arrangements
for SAARC Food Security Reserve should be made more effective. We
also recommend the establishment of a Regional Food Bank for which
a concept paper should be prepared.
16. Investment in human resources is critical for future development
of South Asia. It is, therefore, essential to establish a network
of centres of higher learning and training, and Skill Development
Institutes (SDIs) across South Asia. In this context, the role of
the SAARC Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC) is important.
Science and Technology
17. Strengthening of scientific and technological co-operation
across the region is fundamental to accelerating the pace of economic
and social development. Sharing of scientific and technological
expertise, joint research and development and industrial application
of higher technology should be encouraged and facilitated.
Social Issues
18. We hail 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 are keys to
the welfare and well being of all South Asians.
19. Progress has been made in the constitution of SAARC Autonomous
Advocacy Group of Prominent Women Personalities (SAWAG). To enable
women to contribute to the socio-economic development, there is
a need for SAARC to encourage women entrepreneurs in the region.
20. Member States should move towards an early ratification of
the two Conventions on Child Welfare and Trafficking in Women and
Children for Prostitution.
21. Easy and affordable health care, and prevention and treatment
of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other serious communicable diseases
are priorities. The year 2004 is declared as the "SAARC Awareness
Year for TB and HIV/AIDS". The SAARC Secretariat should effectively
implement the proposed programmes on the observance of the SAARC
Awareness Year and develop a regional strategy through a consultative
process and collaborate closely with the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS) and other international organizations and civil society.
22. The important initiative taken by the Maldives in hosting the
Emergency Meeting of the SAARC Health Ministers on SARS Epidemic
in Male’ on 29 April 2003, was a welcome development.
23. As agreed by the SAARC Health Ministers' Conference held recently
in New Delhi, a SAARC Health Surveillance Centre and a Rapid Deployment
Health Response System should be set up to deal with the emerging
and re-emerging diseases as well as to establish a network between
various institutions dealing with malaria and other vector borne
diseases in the Member States. Also, documentation of traditional
knowledge to safeguard Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) in medicine
needs attention.
24. The importance of cooperation in medical expertise and pharmaceuticals
as well as in the field of traditional medicine requires elaboration
of a SAARC Plan of Action that should be developed in the shortest
possible time.
Culture
25. We take pride in the rich cultural mosaic of the peoples of
South Asia and underline the need for preservation of traditional
skills and crafts, and promotion of cultural exchanges between nations.
26. We welcome the establishment of a SAARC Cultural Centre in
Kandy, which will serve as a symbol of South Asian shared cultural
heritage.
Environment
27. It is important to undertake and reinforce regional cooperation
in the conservation of our water resources and environment, pollution
prevention and control as well as our preparedness to deal with
natural calamities. We welcome the early establishment of the Coastal
Zone Management Centre in the Maldives.
28. The early and effective implementation of the SAARC Environment
Plan of Action is important. We further stress the early submission
of country state of the environment reports to expedite the preparation
of a SAARC state of environment report and the commissioning of
the work on drafting a Regional Environment Treaty.
Combating Terrorism
29. We condemn terrorist violence in all its forms and manifestations
and note that people of South Asia continue to face a serious threat
from terrorism.
30. We are convinced that terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations,
is a challenge to all states and to all of humanity, and cannot
be justified on any ground, whatsoever. Terrorism violates the fundamental
values of the United Nations and the SAARC Charter and constitutes
one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
We agree to fully implement the relevant international conventions
to which we are parties.
31. We reaffirm our commitment to the SAARC Regional Convention
on Suppression of Terrorism, which, among others, recognizes the
seriousness of the problem of terrorism as it affects the security,
stability, and development of the region.
32. The signing of the Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional
Convention on Suppression of Terrorism to deal effectively with
financing of terrorism is a further manifestation of our determination
to eliminate all forms and manifestations of terrorism from South
Asia.
SAARC Award
33. We welcome the institution of the SAARC Award on the basis
of a concept paper drawn up by His Majesty's Government of Nepal
and decide to present the award during the Summits in future. The
Award will honour and encourage outstanding individuals and organizations
within the region in the fields of peace, development, poverty alleviation,
and in other areas of regional cooperation.
Information and Communication
34. We recognize the vital role that information and media can
play in the promotion of peace, progress and harmony in South Asia.
In this context, the initiatives for introducing regular ‘SAARC
Roundup’ and ‘SAARC News’ programmes for telecast
and broadcast on National TV and Radio Channels respectively in
Member Countries is a welcome development. We agree to the establishment
of a SAARC Information Centre in Kathmandu.
35. SAARC should endeavour to bring the benefits of information
and communications technology to all peoples of the region, bridging
the digital divide and assist in the development of knowledge based
societies.
SAARC Integrated Programme of Action (SIPA)
36. We note with satisfaction the progress achieved in regional
cooperation through SIPA. The commitment to SIPA must be matched
by a corresponding allocation of resources for it.
Strengthening of the SAARC Secretariat
37. We agree to strengthen the capacity of the SAARC Secretariat.
In this regard a Committee comprising of a Member from each Member
State should meet soon and submit its recommendations within three
months for consideration of the next session of the Council of Ministers.
The Secretary General would coordinate the work of the Inter-Governmental
Committee. Pending implementation of the recommendations of the
proposed Committee a Poverty Alleviation Cell at the Secretariat
should start functioning with a view to following up the Summit
decisions on poverty alleviation.
Sub-Regional Cooperation
38. We encourage 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 SAARC Charter.
Inter-Regional Cooperation
39. We express our determination to develop mutually beneficial
links between SAARC and other regional and international organizations,
bodies and entities and agree to establish dialogue partnership
with other regional bodies and with states outside the region, interested
in SAARC activities.
Enhancing Political Cooperation
40. We envision South Asia to be a peaceful and stable region where
each nation is at peace with itself and its neighbours and where
conflicts, differences and disputes are addressed through peaceful
means and dialogue.
41. We reaffirm our pledge to promote good neighbourly relations
on the basis of the principles of sovereign equality, territorial
integrity and national independence, non-use of force, non-intervention
and non-interference and peaceful settlement of disputes and recognize
the importance of informal political consultations in promoting
mutual understanding and reinforcing confidence building process
among Member States.
Security of Small States
42. We are particularly mindful of the security concerns of small
states that arise, inter alia, from their particular vulnerabilities,
which should be firmly addressed by scrupulous adherence to the
UN Charter, rules of international law and strict adherence to the
universally accepted principles and norms related to sovereign rights
and territorial integrity of all states. This should be ensured
by all, both severally and collectively, through appropriate actions.
43. We endorse the recommendations made by the Council of Ministers
at its Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Sessions.
Thirteenth SAARC Summit
44. We appreciate the offer of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
to host the Thirteenth SAARC Summit in January 2005.
|