| kathmandu, jan-2: prime minister sher bahadur deuba
has expressed confidence that the forthcoming 11th summit of saarc
which is going to be held after a long gap in kathmandu would play an
instrumental role in encouraging the concepts of regional cooperation
and activities towards forward-looking direction in the changed
context and in keeping with the demand of the time.
mr deuba said this in an exclusive interview to rastriya samachar
samiti in the context of all preparations for the summit having been
completed today.
since the next summit is likely to offer a fresh dynamism to
regional cooperation activities which have come to a virtual
standstill for the past some time and will also significantly
contribute to our common goals enshrined in the saarc charter, he has
given the summit high importance, he further said.
asked what can be the main basis with which his majesty's
government demonstrated courage and confidence to host the saarc
summit even in such an uncomfortable situation marked by the state of
emergency, the prime minister said, "terrorist activities have now
considerably declined in the country, and peace and security situation
is satisfactory. the support his majesty's government has received
from all the countrymen for this step has offered added strength to
it. for this reason, there is no problem in hosting the forthcoming
saarc summit without let or hinderence. "
responding to another question, pm deuba noted that saarc has been
able to maintain its identity, and contacts and interactions being
developed at the people's level have provided a favorable atmosphere
for regional cooperation.
speaking of the need to expand avenues of economic cooperation
aimed at uplifting the people's quality of life in south asia while at
the same time consolidating the gains saarc has made so far, he
remarked that saarc has taken important measures towards setting up a
free trade regime in the region.
since the south asian region took initiatives belatedly as compared
to other regions in terms of materializing the concept of regional
cooperation, the region nearly accounts for one-fifth of the world's
total population, population growth rate is comparatively high and
almost all countries of the region are backward in economic
development, prime minister deuba said poverty is a central common
problem and nepal is of the view that poverty alleviation programs
should be advanced under saarc with priority.
despite the fact that poverty alleviation has remained a priority
issue for saarc ever since it inception failure to effectively
implement the decisions in this regard poverty still remains as a big
problem in south asia, he said, stressing the need to review the
implementation aspect of such decisions taken so far and direct
efforts towards ensuring effective implementation of poverty reduction
programmes.
replying to a question concerning a rise in terrorism, prime
minister deuba described terrorism as a big challenge to human
civilization and called for a global unity to uproot it.
as terrorism has emerged as a matter of serious concern for the
whole world including nepal the saarc summit also will give due
importance to this issue, he said.
recalling that the third saarc summit held earlier in kathmandu had
endorsed a regional convention on suppressing terrorism, the prime
minister said all saarc members have now agreed to make necessary
legal provisions as soon as possible to implement the convention.
asked about the issues nepal has given priority to at the summit,
the prime minister said nepal will raise the issues of poverty
alleviation, consolidation and expansion of regional economic
cooperation, social development, expansion of contacts at the people's
level and control of terrorism.
stating that the saarc charter has clearly excluded bilateral,
contentious issues and since all decisions of saarc are taken on the
basis of consensus, bilateral issues have been left strictly outside
the saarc agenda, he made it clear that saarc stresses mutual
goodwill, friendship and promotion of cooperation only.
as regards the question whether afghanistan, a south asian nation,
can be included in the regional grouping, mr deuba said since all
decisions are taken on the basis of consensus, if any country applies
for membership, decisions on it are also taken on the same basis. no
such application has been received so far from anywhere.
in reply to yet another question that the 11th saarc summit will
place additional burden on the shoulders of nepal of leading the
regional grouping, the prime minister said, "we are fully committed to
the concept of regional cooperation and in an age of economic
liberalization and globalization, the importance of regional
cooperation has increased by the day. i have taken it as highly
positive the opportunity to lead saarc for the second time."
asked to elaborate on additional measures needed to enhance the
efficacy of saarc in promoting this region's socio-economic condition,
prime minister deuba said while making programmes concerning regional
cooperation more people and result-oriented it is most essential to
bring the fruits of saarc activities and programmes within the reach
of the target groups.
he also stressed the need to put much effort into promoting
cooperation in the economic sector so as to make regional cooperation
more effective and meaningful. rss
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