SAARC Agenda
AS called by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur
Deuba, an all-party meeting was held in Kathmandu the other day to discuss the
preparations for the forthcoming 11th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional
Co-operation (SAARC) and the possible agenda to be raised by Nepal in the regional forum.
Prime Minister Deuba briefed the representatives of both the ruling and opposition parties
about the preparations being made by the government for the SAARC Summit and informed that
physical preparations are almost complete. The Prime Minister also sought suggestions from
the political parties about the agenda to be put forth by Nepal in the upcoming SAARC
summit. The all-party meeting decided to extend cooperation to the government in all
aspects to make the SAARC summit a grand success. The 11th SAARC Summit is being held in
Kathmandu next month, which will hand over the chairpersonship of the SAARC to Nepal. It
is thus very important and a matter of national pride for Nepal. SAARC is an important
regional forum that aims at promoting and expanding cooperation in the region to solve
various problems being faced by the people of South Asia. Poverty and terrorism are the
two most pressing problems of South Asia at present. South Asia has abundant natural
resources and one-fifth of the world’s population. However, it is also the region
with the largest number of poor people in the world. Similarly, the growing terrorism
menace is posing a serious threat to peace, stability, development and democracy in South
Asia. All the countries are fighting against poverty and terrorism. It is, thus, very
important for all the nations of the region to chalk out a common and comprehensive
strategy to fight these problems for the common interest of the South Asian people. The
11th SAARC Summit is expected to adopt resolutions to fight poverty, terrorism, child
labour and human trafficking. Similarly, expansion of economic cooperation and creation of
South Asia free trade region are other important agendas that will be taken up during the
11th SAARC summit. These are common problems, which can be solved only through collective
and concerted efforts of all the member states. SAARC is the hope of a fifth of the
world’s population, which, thus, needs to be developed as a model regional group. As
the 11th Summit is being held in Kathmandu, all political parties and people need to work
together and cooperate with government to make it a grand success.
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