Nepal calls for early SAARC summit

December 10, 2001
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Current chairman Nepal Tuesday called for an early SAARC summit indefinitely postponed Monday just when it was scheduled to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan, in January next year.

“Nepal believes that in order to keep the momentum generated by the 11th SAARC summit held in Kathmandu early this year, the new summit dates should be worked out as early as possible,” a Foreign Ministry statement said Tuesday.

“As the country holding the chairmanship of SAARC at the moment, we would like to see sustained efforts by all to hold all the meetings including the SAARC summit in time as stipulated in the SAARC Charter,” the statement said.

“At a time when there is a general upsurge of regional groupings to maximize benefits through competitiveness and regional synergy, South Asia needs to consolidate and expand its cooperative endeavours in the days ahead,” the statement said.

Pakistan postponed the summit indefinitely Monday after India and Bhutan failed to confirm their participation at the summit. Nepal and four other member states confirmed their participation.