Introduction
- The Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh,
Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina; the King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme
Singye Wangchuck; the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, His
Excellency Mr. Inder Kumar Gujral; the President of the Republic of
Maldives, His Excellency Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom; the Prime
Minister of Kingdom of Nepal, Rt. Hon. Mr. Lokendra Bahadur Chand;
the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, His
Excellency Mr. Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and the President of the
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Her Excellency Mrs.
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga met at the Ninth Summit of the
South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) at Malé,
Maldives on 12-14 May 1997.
REGIONAL COOPERATION
- The Heads of State or Government reiterated their commitment to
SAARC and resolved to accelerate regional cooperation in order to
realise the aims and objectives of the Association. They reaffirmed
their commitment to the principles enshrined in the SAARC Charter,
especially to the principles of sovereign equality, territorial
integrity, national independence, non-use of force and
non-interference in each others' internal affairs. They were
convinced that regional cooperation was indispensable in an
interdependent world for the realisation of the full potential of
the South Asian region.
- The Heads of State or Government welcomed the holding of the
Commemorative Session of the Council of Ministers in New Delhi in
December 1995 to mark the First Decade, on the theme "SAARC -
Vision for the Second Decade". They observed that over the past
decade SAARC has matured as an institution and the scope and volume
of cooperative activities have expanded. They expressed satisfaction
that in addition to continued cooperation in agreed areas, SAARC has
now moved into the core areas of economic cooperation.
- The Heads of State or Government noted that, in the twelve years
of its existence, SAARC has seen progress in various fields of its
endeavour. They directed that a Group of Eminent Persons (GEP) be
constituted, with distinguished backgrounds in activities pertaining
to regional cooperation, comprising of one representative from each
Member State, with the discretion of each Member State to appoint an
additional representative. This Group, to which the SAARC
Secretary-General will be invited, will undertake a comprehensive
appraisal of SAARC, and identify measures including mechanisms to
further vitalise and enhance the effectiveness of the Association in
achieving its objectives. They further decided that the Group may
develop a long-range vision and formulate a perspective plan of
action including a SAARC Agenda for 2000 and Beyond which will spell
out the target that can and must be achieved by the year 2020. The
Group may report to the Heads of State or Government at the Tenth
SAARC Summit.
- With a view to enhancing the effectiveness of the role and
functioning of the Secretariat, the Heads of State or Government
agreed to amend Article V (1) of the Memorandum of Understanding on
the Establishment of the Secretariat and decided that the tenure of
the Secretary-General, with immediate effect, shall be for a
non-renewable term of three years.
- The Heads of State or Government reiterated their determination
to reinforce the unity and cohesion of SAARC. With the objective of
enhancing regional solidarity and promoting overall development
within SAARC, the Heads of State or Government encouraged, under the
provisions of Articles VII and X of the Charter, the development of
specific projects relevant to the special individual needs of three
or more Member States.
- They agreed that a climate of mutual accommodation and purposeful
cooperation was needed to impart further impetus to the SAARC
process during the second decade of SAARC in order to address the
developmental challenges facing the region.
ENHANCING POLITICAL COOPERATION
- The Heads of State or Government recalled their commitment to the
promotion of mutual trust and understanding and, recognising that
the aims of promoting peace, stability and amity and accelerated
socio-economic cooperation may best be achieved by fostering good
neighbourly relations, relieving tensions and building confidence,
agreed that a process of informal political consultations would
prove useful in this regard.
ERADICATION OF POVERTY IN SOUTH ASIA
- The Heads of State or Government were unequivocal in their
commitment to the eradication of poverty in South Asia at the
earliest, preferably by the year 2002 A.D. through an Agenda of
Action. They noted with satisfaction the establishment of a
three-tier mechanism on poverty eradication and endorsed the
recommendations of the two rounds of meetings under this mechanism
hosted by India and Pakistan, respectively. They desired that the
Ministers of Finance / Planning should meet again in the near future
to give further impetus to this process.
- In considering the Report of the Ministers of Finance/Planning,
the Heads of State or Government agreed that effective
implementation of poverty eradication programmes required a focus on
greater participation of target groups in the formulation and
implementation of such programmes through social mobilization. They,
therefore, decided to designate 1997 as the "SAARC Year of
Participatory Governance".
- The Heads of State or Government welcomed the successful holding
of the Micro-credit Summit in Washington, D.C. in February 1997 and
its Declaration of support to launch a global campaign to reach 100
million of the world’s poorest families, especially women, with
credit for self-employment and other financial and business
services, by the year 2005 A.D.
- Recognising that micro-credit programmes have successfully
demonstrated their usefulness toward achieving many goals of
socio-economic upliftment, including the eradication of poverty and
empowerment of women, the Leaders agreed to intensify endeavours in
their respective countries so that the outreach of these programmes
becomes widespread.
- The Heads of State or Government were convinced that an enabling
international environment to support poverty eradication efforts of
the SAARC countries is an essential element in attaining success for
these efforts. They urged all donor countries, international
institutions and other bodies engaged in eradication of poverty to
increase their support and assistance to these efforts.
ACCELERATION OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION
- The Heads of State or Government noted with satisfaction the
entry into force of the Agreement on SAARC Preferential Trading
Arrangement (SAPTA) on 7 December 1995. They recognised the
importance of achieving a free trade area by the year 2001 A.D. and
reiterated that steps towards trade liberalisation must take into
account the special needs of the smaller and the Least Developed
Countries and that benefits must accrue equitably.
- While expressing satisfaction at the conclusion of the two Rounds
of Trade Negotiations under SAPTA, the Heads of State or Government
welcomed the decision to launch the Third Round of Trade
Negotiations shortly. They agreed that preferential tariff
concessions should cover products which are being actively traded
amongst Member States. They further agreed that the Third Round
should deepen tariff concessions along with the removal of
non-tariff barriers and structural impediments in order to move
speedily towards the goal of SAFTA.
- The Leaders welcomed the holding of the First Meeting of the
Commerce Ministers and the First SAARC Trade Fair in New Delhi in
1996 and noted the decision of the Commerce Ministers to meet
annually. They further welcomed the offer of Pakistan to host the
second SAARC Trade Fair to coincide with the SAARC Commerce
Ministers’ Meeting.
- The Heads of State or Government agreed that the efforts to
enhance trade and economic co-operation in the region would be
further strengthened by initiating specific steps to promote and
protect investment, increase complementarities in economic
activities of Member States and other measures supportive of
promotion of SAARC joint ventures. They also welcomed the offer of
India to host a meeting on promotion and protection of investment
and the offer of Pakistan to host a meeting on avoidance of double
taxation. They also welcomed measures of cooperation in the areas of
customs standardisation, arbitration and enhancing industrial
economy and management.
- The Heads of State or Government agreed that in intensifying
economic cooperation the interests of smaller countries, especially
the least developed among them, should be taken into account through
the implementation of special measures in their favour.
- The Heads of State or Government noted that inadequate
communications facilities amongst the Member States were a major
hindrance to closer economic co-operation. They stressed the
importance of developing infrastructure and adequate communication
networks among Member States to reinforce the process of economic
co-operation. In this regard, they highlighted the need for the
simplification of complex documentation procedures and transactional
software to facilitate economic interaction across the region. They
welcomed the offer of Sri Lanka to host a Meeting of the
Communication Ministers of the Member States.
- The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed their determination
to encourage the private sector in the region to contribute
increasingly to the strengthening of intra-SAARC links in key areas
of trade, investment and finance. They welcomed the decision by the
SCCI to convene annually an Economic Cooperation Conference in
conjunction with the annual meeting of SAARC Commerce Ministers and
SAARC Trade Fairs.
INTEGRATED PROGRAMME OF ACTION (IPA)
- The Heads of State or Government emphasised the need to make the
Integrated Programme of Action (IPA) more effective through the
selection of target-oriented and time-bound activities within an
overall framework of enhanced co-operation among Member States. In
this context, they noted that the Secretary-General had been
authorised by the Council of Ministers to constitute a Group of
Experts to review the IPA.
REGIONAL CENTRES
- The Heads of State or Government noted that Regional Centres have
an important role to play in harnessing the resources and
capabilities within the SAARC region in addressing specific and
shared concerns of Member States. They welcomed the decision of the
Council of Ministers to establish a Human Resource Development
Centre in Pakistan.
- They stressed that Regional Centres should implement action and
result- oriented programmes and highlighted the importance of
rationalising the functioning of these Centres.
WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT
- The Heads of State or Government recognised that increased social
and political awareness in the region had brought positive
contributions to the issues of gender equality and empowerment of
women. They further emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation to
achieve the desired objective of bringing women into the mainstream
of socio-economic development in the region. In this context, they
emphasised the urgency to effectively implement the recommendations
of the "Dhaka Resolution on Women", issued at the
conclusion of the SAARC Ministerial Conference on Women and
presented to the Fourth World Conference on Women.
- Taking note of the mid-decade review of the SAARC Plan of Action
on the Girl-Child, the Heads of State or Government expressed their
determination to accelerate efforts at reduction of malnutrition and
mortality rates, raising education and literacy rates, reduction of
the proportion of early marriage among girls, and the postponement
of the age of first pregnancy, thereby contributing to the increased
welfare of the girl-child and reduction of population growth rates.
- The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed their commitment to
take urgent action to alleviate the situation of Girl Children in
Especially Difficult Circumstances (GCEDC), including those
orphaned, disabled and/or exploited. In this context, they endorsed
the recommendations made by the Council of Ministers, aimed at the
creation of a socio-economic environment in the SAARC region which
would provide equal opportunities to children from all economic
sections.
- Expressing grave concern at the trafficking of women and children
within and between countries, the Heads of State or Government
pledged to coordinate their efforts and take effective measures to
address this problem. They decided that existing legislation in
Member States should be strengthened and strictly enforced. This
should include simplification of repatriation procedures for victims
of trafficking. They also decided that the feasibility of
establishing a Regional Convention on Combating the Crime of
Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution be examined by
the relevant Technical Committee.
CHILDREN
- The Heads of State or Government expressed satisfaction that the
annual reviews of the situation of children in SAARC countries for
the years 1995 and 1996 revealed significant progress in reducing
infant mortality and in enhancing the coverage of immunisation in
the region. They stressed that sustained efforts should be made by
Member States to consolidate the gains in these areas. In this
regard, they welcomed the decision to designate Seventh December,
1997 and Eighteenth January, 1998 as "SAARC Polio Immunisation
Days".
- The Heads of State or Government resolved to implement
appropriate policies at the national level to achieve the targets
and objectives set out in the Rawalpindi Declaration issued at the
end of the Third Ministerial Conference on the Children of South
Asia held in August 1996, including the call to eliminate the evil
of child-labour from the region by the year 2010 A.D. They called
for stringent measures to protect children from all forms of
exploitation. To this end, the Leaders agreed to set up a Study
Group at an appropriate level to examine the social compulsions that
create the problem.
- They reaffirmed their commitment to improve the status of
children in disadvantaged circumstances in the SAARC region. They
recognised that the problems of these children are inextricably
linked to the prevailing socio-economic conditions and problems of
the region, and therefore, called for a holistic approach to address
them. They expressed the need to formulate a Convention on Regional
Arrangements on the Promotion of Child Welfare in South Asia in
launching the SAARC Decade of the Rights of the Child, from the year
2001 A.D. to 2010 A.D.
NUTRITION
- Noting that malnutrition, often severe, is a serious concern in
South Asia, the Heads of State or Government agreed to launch an
Initiative on Nutrition aimed at promotion of availability of food
of essential nutritional value to individual household and evolving
policies for supplementing and fortifying essential micro-nutrients,
deficiencies of which have affected the well being of the most
vulnerable sections of the population, particularly women and
children.
- The Heads of State or Government emphasised that the provision of
a safe, secure and clean environment was an essential pre-requisite
for the welfare of the most vulnerable sections of society in the
region, particularly for the proper growth and development of
children, and agreed on the need for launching technology missions
to develop low-cost, easily replicable technologies appropriate
local conditions for sustainable harvesting of water, provision of
clean drinking water and sanitation.
YOUTH
- The Heads of State or Government welcomed the operationalization
of the SAARC Youth Awards Scheme and noted that the Scheme will be
reviewed in the near future with the purpose of expanding it. They
also welcomed the initiative to organize Youth Camps in the region
on various themes.
PERSONS WITH DISABILITY
- Conscious of the continuing problems faced by disabled persons,
the Heads of State or Government reaffirmed their resolve to
continue the implementation of the recommendations of the
Ministerial Conference on Disabled Persons held in Islamabad in
December 1993.
SHELTER
- The Heads of State or Government emphasized that housing was a
basic right of all people and reiterated their determination to
sustain efforts to improve the condition of human settlements in the
region, with a view to achieving the global objective of "Shelter
for All by the Year 2000".
LITERACY
- The Heads of State or Government recognised that illiteracy is
one of the major causes impeding the development of the vast human
resource potential of the region and a major factor contributing to
the region's economic backwardness and social imbalance. They noted
that the Member States had observed "1996 as the SAARC Year of
Literacy" and reiterated their commitment to continue
endeavours to eradicate illiteracy from the region.
- Recognising the resource, manpower and infrastructural
constraints to the promotion of vocational and higher education in
the region, the Leaders agreed that new and innovative methods like
Open Learning and Distance Education can play an effective role in
meeting regional needs in a cost effective and flexible manner.
Accordingly, they agreed that the institutional facilities in such
education available in the region should be utilised on a regional
scale. The possibility of the creation of a Consortium of Open
Universities in the region should also be explored.
ENVIRONMENT
- The Heads of State or Government expressed concern about the
continuing degradation of the environment in different parts of the
world including the SAARC region. While recognizing that collective
initiatives were required urgently to address the challenge posed by
such degradation, they noted that unsustainable consumption patterns
in the developed countries and widespread poverty in the developing
countries are major factors contributing to ecological degradation
in different parts of the world. In this regard, they noted that
although both developed and developing countries were required to
undertake specific initiatives to face environmental concerns,
stress should also be laid on the acceleration of development in
developing countries to enable them to face environmental
challenges.
- Reviewing the work carried out in the area of disseminating
information on the problems of environmental degradation and their
impact on the region, the Heads of State or Government expressed the
urgent need for the implementation of the recommendations of the
SAARC Regional Study on the Greenhouse Effect and its Impact on the
Region, and the Regional Study on the Causes and Consequences of
Natural Disasters and the Protection and Preservation of the
Environment. They welcomed the offer of the Maldives to host a
meeting of the SAARC Environment Ministers to focus more directly on
the Environment concerns of the region including the formulation of
a Plan of Action for immediate implementation of recommendations
contained in the two Studies, taking into account the
recommendations made by the Meeting of the Environment Ministers in
New Delhi in April 1997. The Leaders felt that the meeting may also
consider the feasibility of drawing up a Regional Treaty on
Environment in the context of existing international Conventions on
the subject. They reiterated their view that Member States should
take all necessary steps in vital areas such as sharing and
developing scientific capabilities to protect and manage the
environment.
- The Heads of State or Government agreed on the urgent need for
cooperation through exchange of information, strategies and
technologies for combating pollution of air and water and for
evolving common minimum standards which could be applied region-wide
in this regard. Recognising the wealth of bio-diversity in the South
Asian region and expressing concern at the threat of its progressive
depletion through degradation and fragmentation, they affirmed their
commitment to take steps towards the protection and conservation of
these genetic resources. They noted that many areas rich in
bio-diversity in South Asia lay along shared borders and agreed to
cooperate in the creation of contiguous protected areas where
identified. They also agreed to cooperate in the prevention of
illegal trafficking in flora and fauna and devise an appropriate
mechanism for this purpose, including the possibility of concluding
a Convention. They decided that the meeting of SAARC Environment
Ministers should be institutionalised henceforth as an annual event.
- While expressing concern at the slow progress in the
implementation of the Agenda 21, the Heads of State or Government
called for the urgent implementation of the commitments,
recommendations and agreements reached at the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in
June 1992. In particular, they also called for the early
implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change and the adoption of a Protocol or another legal instrument
for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by developed countries
within an early timeframe, but not later than the year 2005 A.D.
- The Heads of State or Government underlined the importance of
projecting an effective, and coordinated collective position of
SAARC at the forthcoming Special Session of the United Nations
General Assembly to Review and Appraise the Implementation of Agenda
21. In this regard, they fully endorsed the New Delhi Declaration
issued at the end of the SAARC Ministerial Conference on Environment
held from 2-3 April 1997, as amended at the Eighteenth Session of
the Council of Ministers.
TERRORISM AND DRUG TRAFFICKING
- Recognising that terrorism and drug trafficking pose a serious
threat to security and stability of Member States, the Heads of
State or Government reiterated their firm commitment to combat these
activities in the region. They emphasised the urgent need to
complete enabling legislation in order to implement the SAARC
Regional Conventions on Suppression of Terrorism and on Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
- The Heads of State or Government recalled the adoption of the
1996 UN Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism
and urged all Member States to work towards its implementation. They
called for international action to prevent the abuse of Refugee
Conventions and to halt activities which help terrorist groups to
collect funds for their activities in South Asia.
- The Heads of State or Government noted the establishment of the
SAARC Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk (STOMD) and the SAARC Drug
Offences Monitoring Desk (SDOMD) in Colombo. They agreed on the need
to maintain regular flow of relevant information to enable the
Monitoring Desks to function effectively.
- The Heads of State or Government noted with appreciation the
convening of the First SAARC Conference on Cooperation in Police
Matters in Colombo during July 1996. They endorsed the outcome of
the Conference, particularly, the call for sharing of expertise with
regard to the different areas of police investigation and
investigation of organised crime and drug related crimes. They
welcomed the offer of the Maldives to host the second Conference in
1997.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- Noting that cooperation in the field of Science and Technology
was imperative in ensuring the acceleration of the process of
development in the region and recognising the progress made in this
field, the Heads of State or Government emphasised the need to
continue cooperation in this area, especially in facilitating
research and exchange of information in the fields of
bio-technology, genetic engineering, energy modelling techniques and
low-cost housing and building technologies.
TOURISM
- Emphasising that tourism plays an important role in promoting
people to people contact in the region, the Heads of State or
Government stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation with
the aim of realising its full potential in the region. They were
convinced that greater cooperation in this area would contribute to
the enhancement of people-to-people contact within the region as
well as to the economic development of Member States.
- The Heads of State or Government noted that organised tourism in
South Asia has not yet achieved its full potential, and recommended
that appropriate measures to promote tourism be given priority, and
in this regard, welcomed the offer of Sri Lanka to host the SAARC
Ministerial Meeting on Tourism in Colombo in 1997.
PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONTACT
- The Heads of State or Government reiterated their conviction that
enhanced people-to-people contact would contribute to strengthening
mutual understanding and goodwill among the people in the region. In
this context, they noted the positive contribution made by SAARC
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and SAARCLAW.
- They observed that SAARC Chairs, Fellowships and Scholarships
Scheme should be increasingly used to facilitate greater interaction
among students, scholars and academics in the region.
- The Heads of State or Government noted with satisfaction the
inclusion of new categories of persons from different walks of life
in the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme and believed that this would
further promote people-to-people contact.
- They noted the offer of Sri Lanka to host the First SAARC Film
Festival in Colombo in 1998 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of
the Independence of Sri Lanka.
- The Heads of State or Government agreed that the SAARC countries
possess enormous tourism potential that should be properly utilised
for the benefit of the people of the region. In this context, they
decided that the civil aviation authorities of Member States should
meet in the very near future with a view to establishing direct air
services between SAARC capitals which would promote people-to-people
contact and encourage tourism. They welcomed the offer of Bangladesh
to host the first meeting of the civil aviation authorities.
SOUTH ASIAN DEVELOPMENT FUND (SADF)
- While expressing satisfaction that the South Asian Development
Fund (SADF) had been established in June 1996 initially with its
headquarters in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the Heads of State or Government
recognised the need to make the Fund operational at the earliest.
PROJECTION OF COLLECTIVE POSITIONS
- The Heads of State or Government reiterated their commitment to
develop collective SAARC positions in international fora on issues
of common concern, in order to enhance the international profile of
South Asia as well as to enable Member States to articulate their
position on such issues in a more effective manner. In this regard,
they noted with satisfaction the collective SAARC positions
finalised and presented prior to the Fourth World Conference on
Women held in Beijing in September 1995, HABITAT II held in Istanbul
in June 1996, and World Food Summit held in Rome in November 1996.
They also expressed satisfaction with the formulation of a SAARC
common position before the forthcoming Special Session of the United
Nations General Assembly to Review and Appraise the Implementation
of Agenda 21.
SECURITY OF SMALL STATES
- The Heads of State or Government recognised that small states,
because of their particular vulnerabilities, require special
measures of support from the international community for
safeguarding their sovereign independence and territorial integrity.
They further reaffirmed their view that such support should be
firmly rooted in the scrupulous adherence to the UN Charter, the
rule of law and strict adherence to universally accepted principles
and norms related to sovereign rights and territorial integrity of
all States irrespective of size. This, they emphasised, may be
ensured by all countries either severally or collectively through
the pursuit of appropriate action.
INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
- The Heads of State or Government had wide ranging discussions on
current international issues, particularly those that affect South
Asia. In this context, reiterating their deep commitment to the
purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the Heads of State or
Government recalled that the commemoration of the 50th anniversary
of the founding of the United Nations in October 1995 had
highlighted the need to strengthen, revitalize and reform the
Organization. They reiterated their support to the on-going process
of restructuring and revitalizing the Organization and reaffirmed
their resolve to make it a more effective universal instrument for
addressing international issues on an equitable and democratic
basis, taking full account of the interests and concerns of all
states.
- Addressing the question of reform of the United Nations, the
Heads of State or Government laid particular emphasis on the
principle of sovereign equality of States and on equitable
geographical representation in regard to the question of increase in
the membership of the Security Council. They recognised the need to
make the Security Council more representative, democratic and
transparent, so that it is better equipped to uphold its
responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and
security.
- The Heads of State or Government reiterated their firm commitment
to the principles and objectives of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
and underscored the continued validity and relevance of these
principles and objectives in the contemporary world. They expressed
their deep conviction that the Movement’s innate strength
equips it to continue to play a most constructive role in laying the
foundations of a new world order based on the rule of law,
non-interference, equity and cooperation.
- The Heads of State or Government while expressing support to the
continuation of the peace process in the Middle East, expressed
concern at the setback to the peace process and unleashing of
violence against Palestinian people in occupied territories and the
resulting threat to the peace process due to policies of the
Government of Israel in establishing and enlarging existing Jewish
settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. They were
convinced that the peace process should be continued by honouring
previous commitments made by all parties involved. They also called
for the restoration of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people, including the right of self determination and the
establishment of a sovereign State under the leadership of PLO,
their sole legitimate representative, which could co-exist with its
neighbours in peace and harmony.
- Noting that the end of the Cold War had created unprecedented
opportunities in the field of disarmament, the Heads of State or
Government recognised the need for the international community to
pursue nuclear disarmament as a matter of highest priority. In this
regard, they recognised the need to start negotiations through the
Conference on Disarmament and to establish a phased programme for
the complete elimination of nuclear weapons within a specified
framework of time, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention.
- While reiterating their commitment to the promotion and
protection of human rights, the Heads of State or Government
resolved to take all necessary steps to achieve this objective.
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES
- The Heads of State or Government noted that current trends of
globalisation and liberalisation were imposing a heavy burden on
developing economies, in particular, the least developed countries
(LDCs) which are becoming marginalised from the mainstream of the
world economy. They also expressed concern over trends to erect new
protectionist barriers by linking imports from developing countries
to politically motivated social and environmental values and
concerns, such as human rights. They observed that the impact of
these trends is compounded by new challenges relating to issues of
access to markets, capital and new technologies. They also noted
with regret the overall decline in the Official Development
Assistance (ODA) over the years which has contributed to the
aggravation of the condition of the LDCs.
- The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the promotion of a
non-discriminatory and multilateral rule-based global system of
economic relations in order to engage the developing countries
constructively and on the basis of reciprocal shared benefits in the
process of liberalisation, as well as to assist them integrate into
the global economy.
- The Heads of State or Government called on the developed
countries to assist the developing countries through the creation of
a favourable and supportive global economic environment, in
particular, through domestic action in their countries for purposes
of accelerating investment flows to developing countries thereby
generating a positive impact on the developmental efforts of
developing countries as well as assisting their integration into the
multilateral trading system. They also called on the developed
countries to substantially reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers and
desist from restrictive trade practices, which would negatively
affect the access of developing countries to global markets.
SPECIAL MEASURES FOR THE LEAST DEVELOPED AND LAND-LOCKED
COUNTRIES
- The Heads of State or Government emphasised the need for priority
action on various international development commitments, such as the
Paris Declaration and the Programme of Action for LDCs for the
1990s.
- While noting with deep concern that economic growth in the Least
Developed and Land-Locked Countries is not progressing well, the
Heads of State or Government stressed the need to take special
measures for accelerating the process of development. They
emphasized the need to fulfil the internationally agreed aid targets
for ensuring accelerated and sustained economic growth in developing
countries particularly in the Least Developed Countries. They
stressed on the need for adequate resources to facilitate
implementation of economic reform programmes in SAARC countries.
- The Heads of State or Government emphasised that the review of
the criteria for the determination of LDC status for consideration
by the United Nations General Assembly this year, must take into
account the special significance of the extent and magnitude of
incidence of poverty in the poorest countries and the special
vulnerabilities of small island states.
DATES AND VENUE OF THE TENTH MEETING OF THE HEADS OF STATE OR
GOVERNMENT
- The Heads of State or Government accepted with deep appreciation
the offer of the Government of Sri Lanka to host the Tenth SAARC
Summit. They further decided that the Eleventh and Twelfth Summits
will be held in Nepal and Pakistan, respectively.
- The Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka expressed their sincere appreciation
for the exemplary manner in which the President of the Republic of
the Maldives had conducted the Meeting and guided its proceedings in
his capacity as Chairman. They expressed their deep gratitude for
the warm and generous hospitality extended to them by the Government
and the people of the Maldives and for the excellent arrangements
made for the Meeting.
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