Indian Goal For Regional Free Trade Zone By 2001 Adopted

ninth SAARC Summit ends on high hopes

Leaders of seven South Asian nations yesterday accepted Indias proposal to transform the region into a free trade area by 2001, agreed for informal political consultations to reduce tension and vowed to combat terrorism and drug trafficking in the region.

In a 12-page declaration unanimously adopted by leaders of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) on the concluding day of their ninth summit here, they agreed for the removal of all trade barriers and structural impediments by advancing the deadline by four years from the earlier agreed goal of Safta by 2005.

 

Prime minister I K Gujral lobbied hard with Saarc heads of state and governments during the three-day summit to advance the deadline for implementation of Safta from 2005 to 2001.

The summit leaders responded positively to Gujrals proposal for the vision of transforming Saarc into an ultimate economic community for the region.

Gujrals suggestion for launching of studies to develop the concept of economic community was not incorporated in the declaration.

Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the new Saarc chairman, and Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga described the informal political consultations as a confidence-building measures.

The declaration said that the political dialogue would help in fostering good neighbourly relations, relieving tensions and building confidence as means promoting peace, stability and accelerated social and economic cooperation in our region.

The fruitful and constructive bilateral meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan was a matter of great satisfaction and happiness to us all because it helped to create congenial atmosphere during the Male summit, Gayoom told a post-summit news conference.

Kumaratunga, who made a strong plea for resuming political dialogue in her speech, expressed satisfaction at the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan and said the success is ours.

Prime Minister I K Gujral and Pakistan foreign minister Goyar Ayub Khan, who were present at the concluding session, cheered her statement.

Talking about the political dialogue, Kumaratunga said we will henceforth discuss freely and frankly in a spirit of cooperation, all those matters which impede the integration of our peoples and their march to security.

The Saarc leaders affirmed their commitment to combat terrorism and drug trafficking in the region, and emphasised the urgent need to enact enabling legislation to implement the Saarc regional convention on suppression of terrorism and narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The summit called for the expansion of the United Nations Security Council on the principle of sovereign equality of states and on equitable geographical representation.

Gayoom, defending the advancement of the deadline for Safta from 2005 to 2001, said the leaders had directed the officials to `hasten the entire process of implementing Safta.

Answering a question about the slow process of Sapta during the past three years, under which the member countries could finalise only 2,000 out of 6,000 items for tariff concessions, Gayoom said all our efforts would be made to complete the process soon.

Asked whether Saarc countries could overcome their differences and concentrate on economic development, he said. We do not deny there were difficulties in the past. But we can remove these difficulties and move ahead.

Gayoom welcomed Gujrals proposal for South Asian Economic Community (SAEC) and said that the idea would be pursued after attaining the goal of Safta.

The leaders also called for the formation of group of eminent persons (GEP), to take comprehensive appraisal of Saarc.

The group was asked to formulate a perspective plan of action, including a Saarc agenda for 2000 and beyond and submit it to the next summit to be held at Colombo in 1998.

On tourism, the Saarc leaders noted that the organised tourism in South Asia has not yet achieved its full potential and asked the officials to initiate appropriate measures to promote tourism and promote people to people contact.

The leaders also resolved to hold the next summit in Sri L anka instead of Nepal. and accepted the request made by

president kumaratunga in this regard. Sri lanka wants to hold

the summit next year in connection with its 50th year of

independence. Pti kjv akt ea trg 05141648 d

Charting cooperation

Safta deadline advanced by four years to 2001.

Political dialogue to speed up regional cooperation.

Interests of smaller nations to be protected.

A 15-member group to revitalise the organisation.

Establishment of direct air link between Saarc capitals.

Legislation to implement the Saarc regional conventions on terrorism and narcotics.

A regional treaty to address environmental problems.