Translate goals of SAARC into reality: PM Koirala

April 3, 2007
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Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that the SAARC should concentrate on translating its goals into reality.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 14th SAARC Summit, Prime Minister Koirala said the regional bloc should work to exploit and use the potentials for eradication of poverty in the region.

He further said the SAARC would not be effective if concrete measures were not taken to bridge the gap between ‘haves and haves not’. Koirala also stressed the need to make common effort to eradicate poverty plaguing the region.

Stating that the SAARC has been able to continue cooperation in difficult times, the Prime Minister expressed his confidence that the summit would be helpful in meeting the myriad challenges facing the region.

Prime Minister Koirala further said that Nepal had set an example in the region by bringing the Maoists into political mainstream. He informed that Nepal has successfully transformed the decade-long insurgency into peace process and added that the country was now moving towards holding the election to constituent assembly.

He also mentioned that he had decided to participate in the SAARC summit despite the advise of doctors not to attend the summit due to bad health. He said he was there as he gave high priority to SAARC.

Other heads of the states pointed out the need to make SAARC more effective. They also pointed out the need for concrete steps to fight terror in the region.

The SAARC was formed in 1985 with the objective of promoting regional interest.

The summit passed the agendas finalised by the foreign minister level meeting of the SAARC. Afghanistan was also admitted as the eighth member of the SAARC.

A declaration was adopted by the other seven members – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives – welcoming the “Islamic Republic of Afghanistan” into the SAARC regional bloc.

The summit also elected head of the state of the host country, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, to the post of new chairman of SAARC.

Afghanistan has joined the SAARC as a full member from this summit. US, European Union, Japan, South Korea and China are participating as observers in the summit.