The 12th SAARC Summit will conclude today (Tuesday) in absence of Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who has already left for home on Monday, reports from Islamabad said.
“President Gayoom left Pakistan before the concluding session of the SAARC Summit because of internal preoccupation and health,” the Rising Nepal said, quoting sources.
The sources also said that President Gayoom had come to Islamabad just to save the Summit, the daily said. According to SAARC Charter, a Summit cannot be held if any of the seven member countries fails to take part.
Earlier reports said Gayoom had grievances with Pakistan, the hosts of the Summit that the latter did not invite Maldives properly. Gayoom said Pakistani officials went against the tradition of SAARC by not coming to Maldives for official invitation to take part in the Summit.
Gayoom is the only founding member of SAARC, who has been regularly attending all Summits of the regional grouping since its inception in 1985.
This will be the first time that a SAARC Summit will conclude without the participation of one of its seven member countries.