Objectives Of Saarc Pdf
What is SAARC history and objectives 3.53/ 5 (70.56%) 89 votes The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an economic and geopolitical organisation of eight South Asian nations. It plays the role of a guiding force for the member countries. For the last two months, SAARC has been frequently making headlines with several new developments being proposed by its member nations. History of SAARC It was back in 1980 when the concept of regional political and economic cooperation in South Asia was first thought of and fired the public imagination. Even before that, the idea was discussed in three major conferences: Asian Relations Conference (New Delhi), Baguio Conference (Philippines) and Colombo Powers Conference (Sri Lanka), which were held between 1947 and 1954.
There are several objectives of the SAARC. Among them, the most important objective of SAARC is to develop the SAARC as a Free Trade Zone and eliminate the poverty.
Ex-president of Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman was the one who made a formal proposal on May 2, 1980. The first SAARC summit was held in Dhaka on 8 December 1985, when the organisation was established. Afghanistan is the only new inclusion that happened since SAARC was established.
Objective of SAARC SAARC’s edifice is built upon a foundation of a strong set of objectives. Every decision SAARC takes and every policy it frames is guided by the overall objectives it had set for itself in the charter.
Although promoting “welfare economics” and “collective self-reliance” among the South Asian nations are the commonly quoted objectives, yet there are some equally important focus areas which need a mention. “Accelerating economic growth” and cultural development in South Asia is one of the priorities, which come under the broader goal of improving quality of life.
Giving every individual the “opportunity to live in dignity and to realise their full potentials” also finds a place in the list of objectives. “Understanding and appreciation of one another’s problems” is one of the rare objectives that one finds in any regional grouping. SAARC also seeks collaboration in the field of economics, culture, technology and science. The member countries aim to strengthen “cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interests.” SAARC Recognised Bodies As an organisation, SAARC mainly operates through six apex bodies which ensure regional cooperation on multiple levels:. SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI): The entity encourages intra-regional trade by creating business linkages among the entrepreneurs.
Its primary focus is on the holistic growth of service sector and small & medium enterprises. SAARCLAW (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Law): The desire to establish an association within the SAARC region “to disseminate information” and “promote an understanding of the concerns and developments” prompted the birth of SAARCLAW in 1991. This association of legal communities of SAARC nations was established in Colombo. South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA): In 1984, this organisation came into existence with an objective of strengthening and serving the accountancy profession in the South Asian Region.
South Asia Foundation (SAF): A non-profit and non-political organisation founded by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh in 2000, SAF encourages regional cooperation through UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institutions of Excellence. The institutions offer courses on varied subjects ranging from Climate and Green Energy to Human Rights and Visual Arts. South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC): Founded in 2005, this regional forum aims at “ending all forms of violence against children in South Asia.”.
Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL): It’s the first non-government organisation working towards nurturing and strengthening cultural connectivity through interactions among SAARC nations. SAFTA In a landmark move, SAARC nations unanimously decided to form South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA). Although the agreement was reached at the 12th SAARC summit in 2004, it came into force on 1 January 2006.
The agreement not only created a free trade area of 1.8 billion people in SAARC nations (except Afghanistan), but also removed trade barriers to increase the level of economic cooperation. SAARC Secretariat The SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu (Nepal) facilitates and monitors implementation of activities of the organisation and acts as a communication channel between SAARC and its member states. Presently, the Secretariat is headed by Nepal’s ex-foreign secretary – Arjun Bahadur Thapa. Achievements & Criticism of SAARC According to the declaration of the 16thSAARC Summit (April 2010), SAARC’s “scope and substance of cooperation had expanded to diverse fields.” The SAARC Summits have indeed created a platform for closed-door bilateral talks exclusive to the participating nations.
These meetings have somewhat led to the progress in regional cooperation. The scope of regional cooperation in SAARC has proliferated, and it has started to engage political, economic, social, cultural and other aspects in its dialogue.
Even the member nations’ interactions with the Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the corporate sectors seem to be developing gradually. However, SAARC is seen as a failure by many analysts. According to observers, it has “achieved very little” over the last three decades. Besides deteriorating regional security environment and growth of terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan, inter-state disputes are also a nagging concern for the grouping. Social and economic sectors have registered a dismal growth, and so is the intra-regional trade.
There’s a need for India and other member states to collectively tackle challenges such as poverty, energy crisis, and terrorism among others. India should take the centre stage and remove the perceived mistrust and a sense of insecurity among the member nations. But first, India and Pakistan should focus on improving bilateral ties.
Contents. Member Nations Summits of SAARC First summit The first summit was held in, on 6–8 December 1985 and was attended by the Government representative and president of Bangladesh, and, the kings of and, and the prime minister of. Signed the SAARC Charter on 8 December 1985, thereby establishing the regional association, and established study groups on the problems of terrorism and drug trafficking, as well as planning a ministerial-level meeting about, and a ministerial-level conference on increasing the participation of women at the regional level. The summit also agreed to establish a SAARC secretariat and adopted an official SAARC emblem. Second summit The second summit was held in November 16–17, India in 1986. The Heads of State or Government welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the SAARC Secretariat by the Council of Ministers and their decision to locate the Secretariat in Kathmandu and appoint Ambassador Abul Ahsan of Bangladesh as the first Secretary-General of south Asian association of regional cooperation.
Third summit The third summit was held in, Nepal from 2–4 November 1987, and was attended by the presidents of Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, the prime ministers of India and Pakistan, and the kings of Bhutan and Nepal. The foreign ministers of the member states signed the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and an agreement to establish a South Asian Food Reserve. Fourth summit The fourth summit was held in, Pakistan on 29–31 December 1988 and was attended by the presidents of Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, the prime ministers of India and Pakistan, and the kings of Bhutan and Nepal. The summit discussed the on 3 November 1988, declared 1989 to be the 'SAARC Year Against Drug Abuse', declared 1990 to be the 'SAARC Year of the Girl Child', set up a technical committee on education, and launched a regional plan called 'SAARC-2000-A Basic Needs Perspective' to meet specific targets by the end of the twentieth century in areas such as food, shelter, education and environmental protection.
It was also agreed to hold regular 'South Asian Festivals' with the first being hosted by India. Fifth summit The fifth summit was held in, Maldives on 21–23 November 1990 and was attended by the presidents of Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, the prime ministers of India, Nepal and Pakistan, and the king of Bhutan. Addu Convention Centre, venue of the 17th SAARC summit The Seventeenth Summit was held from 10-11 of November 2011 in Addu City, Maldives. The Meeting, which was held at the Equatorial Convention Centre, Addu City was opened by the outgoing Chair of SAARC, Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Bhutan, H.E.Lyonchhen Jigmi Yoezer Thinley.
Mohamed Nasheed was elected as the Chairperson of the 17th SAARC Summit. In his inaugural address President Nasheed highlighted three areas of cooperation in which progress should be made; trade, transport and economic integration; security issues such piracy and climate change; and good governance. The President also called on the Member States to establish a commission to address issues of gender inequalities in South Asia. The Head of States of all the SAARC Member States addressed the Meeting. The inaugural meeting was attended by Foreign/External Ministers of SAARC Member States, the Secretary General of SAARC, the Heads of Observer Delegation, Cabinet Ministers of the Maldives, Ministers in the visiting delegations and other state dignitaries. In her address Secretary General stated that the Summit being held under the theme of 'Building Bridges' provides further impetus and momentum to build the many bridges that needs to be built: from bridging the gaps created by uneven economic development and income distribution, the gaps in recognizing and respecting the equality of men and women, the closing of space between intent and implementation.
In this Meeting, the Foreign Ministers of the respective Member States signed four agreements:. SAARC Agreement on Rapid Response to Natural Disasters. SAARC Agreement on Multilateral Arrangement on Recognition of Conformity Assessment. SAARC Agreement on Implementation of Regional Standards.
SAARC Seed Bank Agreement In addition, the Addu Declaration of the Seventeenth SAARC Summit was adopted. Eighteenth summit. Main article: scheduled to host the 19th summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Islamabad on 15 to 16 November 2016. India including Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives did not attend SAARC SUMMIT due to.
Pakistan postponed the SAARC summit and announced that new dates would be released soon,but it did not happen. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his address to the 19th SAARC summit being held in the Pakistan’s capital, said that the objective of this summit was to address the security issues between India and Pakistan.
Objectives Of Saarc
Hours after Indian PM decided to boycott the SAARC Summit in Islamabad in the wake of Uri terror attack Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka have pulled out of the summit. According to sources, Bangladesh believes that growing interference in internal affairs of Bangladesh by one country has created environment not conducive to successful hosting of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016. Reportedly, Bangladesh said that it remains steadfast in its commitment to regional co-operation but believes these can only go forward in more congenial atmosphere. Afghanistan stated that 'Due to increased level of violence, fighting as a result of imposed terrorism on Afghanistan, President of Afghanistan with his responsibilities as Commander in Chief will be engaged and will not be able to attend the SAARC Summit.' Also, Bhutan has expressed concern over recent escalation of terrorism in the region, which seriously compromises environment for successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in Nov 2016, sources added. Bhutan has shared concerns of some of SAARC countries on deterioration of regional peace and security due to terrorism. Sri Lanka decided to pull out of SAARC Summit, becoming the fifth country to pull out, citing the non-conductive situation in Islamabad.
The island nation on September 30, 2016, said in a statement, 'Sri Lanka condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and stresses in this regard, the need to deal with the issue of terrorism in the region in a decisive manner'. Maldives on 1 October 2016 joined hands with other five nations and boycott the summit to become sixth nation to do so. India alleged Pakistan for terrorism. It is reported by Indian media that the SAARC summit in Pakistan is cancelled due to pulling out of six SAARC member states citing 'poor conducive atmosphere' in the South Asian region.
Nepal is only nation that have not pulled out of SAARC Sumit 2016. Nepal cannot pull out of SAARC summit due to present chairperson is from Nepal. Nepal, the current chair of SAARC, urged that 'a conducive environment be created soon to ensure the participation of all member states in the 19th SAARC summit in line with the spirit of the SAARC charter'. References. SAARC Secretariat.
Retrieved 16 October 2010. SAARC Secretariat. Retrieved 16 October 2010. SAARC Secretariat.
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Saarc University
Retrieved 16 October 2010. SAARC Secretariat. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
SAARC Secretariat. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
SAARC Secretariat. Retrieved 16 October 2010. SAARC Secretariat. Retrieved 16 October 2010. SAARC Secretariat. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
SAARC Secretariat. Retrieved 16 October 2010. SAARC Secretariat. Retrieved 16 October 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
Archived from on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-12-16. Mishra, Sitakanta. IndraStra Global. 10th SAARC International Psychiatric Conference 2017. SaarcPcycon2017 Visit: External links.