November 05, 2001

KATHMANDU: Nepal is awaiting a formal communication from current SAARC chairman Sri Lanka to announce the formal dates of the postponed 11th summit of the South Asian regional organization in Kathmandu, a Nepali diplomat said Monday.

“The signals are positive. All preparations have been complete. The formal communication should come soon. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar is not in town. This is the cause of the delay,” he said. The host country has the prerogative to formally announce the summit dates.

The annual summit that was to be held in the Nepali capital in December 1999 was postponed following Indian objections after a military takeover in Pakistan. Kadirgamar said the postponed summit will now be held from January 4 to 6.

The regional meeting will give leaders of India and Pakistan an opportunity to hold a summit in the kingdom on neutral territory. Besides Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Bhutan , Bangladesh and Maldives are also members of the group.