M A I N   N E W S

SAARC for action against terror
Ashok Tuteja
Tribune News Service

Colombo, August 3
With terrorism emerging as the biggest threat in South Asia, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other SAARC leaders today called for the “strongest possible cooperation” against the scourge and urgent development of regional hydro potential, grid connectivity and gas pipelines for energy security.

In a declaration, they observed with concern that rising oil prices were threatening the region’s energy security as well as economic growth.

“The (SAARC leaders) stressed the urgent need to develop the regional hydro potential, grid connectivity and gas pipelines,” the eight-page declaration said. It said: "they (SAARC leaders) noted that the possibility of evolving an appropriate regional inter-governmental framework may be explored to facilitate such endeavour."

The declaration was unanimously approved by Manmohan Singh and other South Asian leaders at the closing ceremony of the two-day 15th SAARC summit at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Convention Hall here.

Other leaders who attended the ceremony were Presidents Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of the Maldives, Prime Ministers G.P. Koirala of Nepal, Jigmey Thinley of Bhutan and Yousaf Raza Gilani of Pakistan as well as Fakruddin Ahmed, chief adviser of the caretaker Bangladesh government.

It was decided that the next SAARC summit would be held in the Maldives. As expected, terrorism dominated the discussions with great emphasis laid on grappling with the menace in the declaration.

It condemned “all forms of terrorist violence” and expressed deep concern over the “serious threat posed by terrorism to the region”.

The SAARC leaders reiterated their commitment to strengthening the legal regime against terrorism by undertaking to implement all international conventions relating to combating terrorism. “They emphasised the need for the strongest possible cooperation in the fight against terrorism and transnational organised crime.”

India has maintained that SAARC countries must collectively fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations to stamp out the menace from the region. The officials said it should be the endeavour of SAARC to make Pakistan realise the futility of encouraging ‘jehadi’ elements operating from its soil and fomenting trouble in other member-states, particularly India and Afghanistan.

The declaration observed that an effective and economic regional telecommunication regime “is an essential factor of connectivity, encouraging the growth of people-centric partnerships”.

It also called for a uniformly applicable low tariff for international direct dial calls within South Asia.

The SAARC leaders expressed satisfaction over the signing of the charter of the SAARC development fund (SDF) and welcomed its early operationalisation from available funds.

They emphasised their commitment to implement the South Asia free trade area (SAFTA) accord in letter and spirit, thereby enabling the group to contribute to the dynamic process of Asia’s emergence as the powerhouse of the world.

The SAARC leaders also granted observers status to Australia and Myanmar.

India will support Nepal in democratic transition: PM
Tribune News Service

Colombo, August 3
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India would continue to work to support Nepal in its democratic transition while expressing satisfaction over the state of relationship between the two countries.

“India wants a stable, democratic and peaceful Nepal...we are impressed by the transition so far, including the conduct of elections,” he said at a meeting here with Nepalese Prime Minister G.P. Koirala on the margins of the SAARC summit.

Koirala briefed Manmohan Singh on the internal situation in his country. The two leaders reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, an Indian spokesman said.

Manmohan Singh also held a meeting with Maldives President M.A. Gayoom, who has attended every SAARC summit.