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COVER STORY |
ELEVENTH
SAARC SUMMIT For a country that has made
international headlines because of street violence, political upheaval and the royal
palace massacre, the 11th summit of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation
came as an opportunity to present Nepal's other face to the world. The summit concluded by
endorsing a 56-point declaration to boost regional cooperation, but made little headway in
easing tensions between India and Pakistan. Although all seven leaders of South Asia spoke
loftily on the need to intensify collective action for poverty alleviation, the hostility
between India and Pakistan overshadowed the summit agenda. For the host country, being
able organize the summit against such a tumultuous backdrop was in itself a major success. By KESHAB POUDEL Never in its 16-year history had the South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) commanded the world's attention. From
Washington to London and from Beijing to other leading world capitals, analysts and
discerning citizens fixed their eyes on every facial expression and body language of
Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee in Kathmandu. Although the latest flare-up of the long-running dispute between
India and Pakistan overshadowed the overall SAARC agenda, the conclusion of the
much-delayed 11th summit itself qualified as a major achievement for the seven-nation
organization. In the uncertain and tense environment
created by the heavy military reinforcements along their border, the leaders of India and
Pakistan came to attend a forum that sought to revitalize regional cooperation. Each
stressed the need to find ways of solving such common problems as endemic poverty and
underdevelopment. They shook hands for the first time in several months.
The tension between India and
Pakistan escalated following the terrorist attack on the Indian parliament on December 13,
2001. The Indian government blames Pakistan-based Islamic fundamentalist groups waging a
violent separatist movement in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir for the
attack, which claimed 14 lives. Islamabad's actions against leaders of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba
and Jaish-e-Muhammad, the two groups New Delhi blames for the attack, weren't enough to
impress Indian politicians and officials. In an effort to step up pressure against
Pakistan, India recalled its high commissioner in Pakistan, order a reduction in Pakistani
diplomatic personnel in New Delhi, withdrew overflight rights enjoyed by Pakistan
International Airlines, and suspended bus and railway links. The military build-up on both sides of the
border, which experts say is the largest in the last 16 years, raised serious concerns
about whether the SAARC summit would be held at all. In the midst of the escalating
India-Pakistan war of words, SAARC officials, foreign ministers and heads of
state/government concluded their summit in a cordial manner. "Given the tense situation, being able
to hold the SAARC successfully is a great success," says a long-time analyst of
regional affairs. "Nepalis should be proud of being able to encourage productive
regional interaction at such a critical juncture in South Asia's turbulent history."
Issues Of SAARC From overpopulation and hunger to natural
calamities, the people of South Asia have been facing common problems of enormous
magnitude. Although they have met 11 times over the past 16 years, the leaders of the
region have failed to address these problems in a tangible way. A primary cause of SAARC's
tardiness remains the tension between India and Pakistan. In a reminder of the
complexities involved in organizing such a gathering, last week's summit had to be
postponed for a day after Gen. Musharraf's arrival in Kathmandu was delayed by several
hours because of bad weather. The time has long arrived for SAARC to show
that is not merely a forum to exchange pleasantries and take group photographs. The forum
must act with greater resolve in addressing important issues of the region's
underdevelopment. Apart from having the world's lowest per
capita income, South Asia is one of the least economically integrated regions of the
planet. Unemployment, poverty, income inequalities, high mortality, low literacy and
economic and social deprivation characterize all seven members in varying degrees. In the backdrop of the India-Pakistan
tensions, the 11th SAARC summit drew wide international news coverage. But the summit was
unable to yield much in terms of addressing it core objective of advancing collective
self-reliance. Among the hopeful signs, however, were the seven leaders' candid
acknowledgement of the need to reinvigorate efforts towards putting in place the South
Asian Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) and finalizing the South Asian Free Trade
Area (SAFTA) accord, and their determination to step up collective efforts to combat
terrorism.
In the Kathmandu Declaration, the
head of state/government agreed to a 56-point agenda encompassing economic development,
poverty alleviation, social and cultural collaboration and the empowerment of women and
children. The leaders also pledged to step up common action in promoting education, easing
the international political and economic environment, ensuring the security of small
states and combating terrorism. They reaffirmed their resolve to incorporate the report of
the Group Eminent Persons, enhance political and sub-regional cooperation, set up a South
Asian Development Fund, promote people-to-people contact, rationalize trade and
institutional policies, wet up a SAARC Award and identify the date and venue for the 12th
summit. The seven foreign ministers also signed the
SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating the Trafficking in Women and Children for
Prostitution and the Convention on Regional Arrangements for the Promotion of Child
Welfare in South Asia. These conventions can be expected to speed up SAARC action on what
are without doubt common regional problems. Region of Diversity Being a region of cultural, religious and
ethnic diversity, all South Asian countries have their own constraints and problems in
internal politics. No government can ignore domestic pressures and conflicts while
embarking on coherent agenda for regional cooperation. Whether in terms of population,
geography or the history of nationhood, South Asia has a complex situation. In terms of
geography, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are much smaller than
nuclear-armed India and Pakistan.
India is largest country in the
region in terms of geography, population and economy. In terms of nationhood, Nepal and
Bhutan are the oldest countries, each having an independent history of more than two
centuries. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bangladesh have a fairly recent
history of independence. Internal feelings about independence are so strong that they
often tend to hamper the philosophy of regional cooperation. Irrespective of their
differences, the countries of the region know they need to adopt a regional endeavor to
ensure their well-being in an era of globalization and liberalization. This collective
acknowledgement was once again exemplified during the 11th SAARC summit. To be sure, the future of the SAARC process
will be determined by the attitude bigger countries take towards the organization. As long
as relations between India and Pakistan remain tumultuous, it would be impossible for
SAARC to achieve its objectives. Indian and Pakistani leaders have maintained, at least in
words, that they would respect the SAARC spirit by not allowing their bilateral
differences to stand in the way of regional cooperation. How they translate that pledge
into practical reality, however, remains to be seen. Benefit for Nepal Nepal is said to have spent more than Rs
280 million to organize the 11th SAARC Summit. The long-term returns are expected to be
several times higher. After sustained negative media coverage, the summit has helped Nepal
to project an image of normality and stability across the world. Over the last year, the kingdom has
witnessed many violent activities in Kathmandu valley. The Maoist insurgency, endemic
political turmoil and the royal palace massacre, among other things, battered the
international image of a country that is heavily reliant on the tourism industry. The 11th
SAARC Summit succeeded in injecting new hope among entrepreneurs, as hotels and allied
industries benefited from the gathering of South Asian leaders, officials and
non-government activists, among others. More than 200 journalists from around the world
were in the capital to cover the summit. Ironically, Nepal received wide
international publicity because of the hostility between India and Pakistan. But the
Kathmandu summit set a positive issue in a number of areas. Moreover, SAARC succeeded in
proving that it is capable of bringing on a common platform leaders of two countries whose
armies are facing off each other. South Asia may have many fault lines, but it also has a
resilient forum for collective action. During last week's summit, each head of
state/government praised the contributions of late King Birendra, one of the founding
fathers of SAARC. King Birendra has enshrined his name in the annals of the region as a
leader of foresight and wisdom. Regional Context Although the 11th SAARC Summit made little
headway in easing tensions between India and Pakistan, it provided a special opportunity
for President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee to renew their personal contact
at a time at a time when it was urgently needed. Despite the air ban imposed by India on
Pakistan's airline, President Musharraf arrived for the summit via the trans-Himalayan
route after stopping over in China. President Musharraf is the first third-country head of
the state who arrived in the kingdom through the trans-Himalayan route. While South Asian analysts acknowledge that
SAARC is yet to emerge as a viable and strong institution, they are also aware of its
achievements in the midst of such odds. "The successful conclusion of the SAARC
summit is a great achievement, as it has proved that the countries of the region —
whether big or small ó need a common mechanism to build closer links," says an
analyst. "If SAARC could hold a summit successfully at such a crucial time in the
region's history, it only shows the maturity and resiliency the organization has acquired
in the 16 years of its existence." All seven SAARC leaders expressed their
full commitment to advance the quest for regional cooperation. From the small island
nation of the Maldives to regional giant India, all countries of the region seem to have
realized the importance of collective endeavors toward achieving common goals. "The
main message that I will be carrying to SAARC is that the people of our region are looking
to their leaders to generate an environment of mutually beneficial cooperation which will
promote their socio-economic aspirations. We should put aside our political confrontations
and mutual rivalries, so that out resources can be concentrated on the pressing agenda of
eradication of poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy," said Prime Minister Vajpayee
in an interview with Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) before the summit. That was precisely the spirit in which the
other six leaders gathered for the summit. "Pakistan has an abiding interest in an
efficient and effective SAARC, capable of playing a significant role in the realization of
the aspirations of the people of our region," said Gen. Musharraf. Nepalese leaders,
although comparatively inexperienced, also conveyed their commitment to concerted regional
action. For Nepalese officials involved in organizing the summit and those participating
in it, the event also offered a good opportunity to acquire knowledge and exposure. "This was a great opportunity to learn
how to conduct international affairs," said a senior Nepalese official attending the
summit. "Having entered the modernization process in the late 1950s, Nepalis seemed
inexperienced in every field. The SAARC summit gave an opportunity to Nepalis to prove
that they have the will and capacity for efficient action if they are given proper
encouragement," he said. "Officials have spruced up the city efficiently and the
people have extended commendable cooperation." For Prime Minister Deuba, too, the summit
came as a moment of glory in his political career. Senior Nepali Congress leaders Krishna
Prasad Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala were forced to resign as prime minister before
they could chair the SAARC summit, which was originally scheduled to be held in late 1999. "The 11th SAARC summit was successful
in bringing the major issues faced by the region into the limelight. We have already
signed the Kathmandu declaration which clearly points out the need to tackle terrorism and
reduce poverty and control trafficking," said Prime Minister Deuba. Tight Security Compared to the third SAARC summit
Kathmandu hosted in 1987, security this time was extremely tight, perhaps another
indication of the urgency with which the region is tackling terrorism in recent years. For
the first time, Kathmanduites experienced helicopter patrolling. In the Kathmandu
Declaration, SAARC heads of state/government affirmed that terrorism, in its all forms and
manifestations, is a challenge to all states and to all of humanity, and cannot be
justified on ideological, political, religious or on any other ground. The leaders agreed
that terrorism violates the fundamental values of the United Nations and the SAARC
Charters and constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and
security in the 21st century. The summit endorsed the UN Security Council
Resolution adopted after the September 11 attacks on the United States, which requires
member countries to step up action on all fronts to combat terrorism. "Our
declaration has endorsed United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 of September 28,
2001 and affirmed to redouble efforts collectively as well as individually," said
Prime Minister Deuba. Although Sri Lankan President Chandrika
Bandaranaike Kumaratunga made powerful and moving statements against terrorism, they found
little coverage amid the broader agenda. "There needs to be a common approach against
terrorism, which is killing innocent people and destroying the basis of human
beings," said Kumaratunga, stressing the need to give up double standards in dealing
with terrorism. South Asia has been a victim of terrorism
for over two decades. Worse, many of the world's dreaded terrorist outfits are based in
the region. After the September 11 attacks on New York City and Washington DC and the
December 13 attack on the Indian parliament, the task of rooting out terrorism has
acquired added importance. Economic Issues The summit, however, sidelined many burning
issues of South Asia. At a time when 12 of the 15 European Union member states have
adopted a single currency, South Asian countries have failed to make any significant
progress on expanding trade and economic activities. Trade within the region is abysmally
low, accounting for less than a percent of global trade. South Asian countries need to
increase the region's trade volume before they can expect to making progress on their goal
of lifting the majority of its people from the mire of abject poverty. "India has taken a number of new
initiatives for closer economic cooperation within SAARC, but they have been blocked for
non-economic reasons," said Prime Minister Vajpayee in his RSS interview. "We
must not let political obsessions or mutual rivalries cloud our collective vision of a
vibrant and prosperous South Asian community." In recent years, SAARC summits have seen
ritualistic reaffirmation of the philosophy of regional cooperation. In the process,
however, the organization often seems to have lost its moorings. According to Article 3 of
the SAARC Charter, summits are required to be held every year. But the 11th summit was
delayed for two and half years, while previous meetings have faced similar hitches. "The stark reality is that even after
16 years of growth, SAARC has not been able to mature to its full potential," said
Gen. Musharraf. "The vision that led to the creation of SAARC has not yet been fully
translated into reality. SAARC's performance so far, in comparison with other regional
organizations, leaves much to be desired. While SAARC limps along, organizations like the
European Union and ASEAN, have galloped ahead." If SAARC does not make sufficient progress,
it would end up being little more than a talking shop for the leaders of the world's
poorest region. Recognizing the need to move quickly toward making tangible achievements,
SAARC heads of state/government last week directed the council of ministers to finalize
the text of the SAFTA Draft Treaty Framework by the end of 2002. They also directed that
in moving towards the goal of SAFTA, the member states expedite action to remove tariff
and non-tariff barriers and structural impediments to free trade. The leaders also
instructed their governments to conclude the meeting of the inter governmental group on
trade liberalization of the fourth round of trade negotiations under SAPTA as early as
possible. Unless India and Pakistan move toward
settling their bilateral differences, however, SAARC's march would be impeded. "I
hadn't expected much from the SAARC summit at a time when relations between its two
biggest members are so tense," says Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani, a former foreign and
finance minister. "The achievement of the 11th summit exceeded my expectations." The 11th SAARC Summit was held successfully
during a crucial moment in the region as well as in Nepal. After a delay of nearly three
years, regional leaders have injected a ray of hope in an institution that appeared to be
on the brink of irrelevance. The challenge is to instil confidence in the people of South
Asia by building on the momentum created in Kathmandu. |
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