M A I N   N E W S

Politics hindering SAARC growth: PM

Male (Maldives), September 23
Without naming Pakistan, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today blamed “some irrational political motivations” for hindering the efforts for closer cooperation within SAARC and asserted that the growth of the grouping would not be allowed to suffer as a result.

Speaking at the state luncheon hosted by Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in his honour, Mr Vajpayee stressed the need for closer regional cooperation for poverty alleviation and equitable economic development in the region.

“Some irrational political motivations are hindering the efforts for closer economic integration within SAARC...We cannot let the growth and development remain hostage to petty political jealousies,” the Prime Minister said.

He expressed India’s willingness to extend unilaterally, if necessary, maximum possible economic and trade concessions to the least developed countries within SAARC.

Asserting India’s commitment to the health and education sectors in the Maldives, the Prime Minister said this commitment was demonstrated in “bricks and mortar” by Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and the Maldives Institute of Technical Education.

“Indo-Maldivian cooperation in human resource development ranges from defence to hospitality, from medicine to information technology”, he said, asserting that “we will widen and intensify its range.”

He said new ideas for cooperation in information technology, ecological preservation of Hulhumale island, digital mapping of the Maldives’ islands for a tele-medicine link and a remote sensing centre laid down “markers for our future endeavours.”

The Prime Minister said security and defence cooperation between India and the Maldives was adhering to a focused programme of training of military personnel and supplying military equipment.

“The joint ‘Dosti’ exercises of our two Coast Guards aptly symbolise our deepening services-to-services friendship,” he stated. UNI