Introduction
- The Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Her
Excellency Sheikh Hasina; Chairman, Council of Ministers and Head of
Government of the Royal Government of Bhutan, His Excellency Lyonpo
Jigmi Y. Thinley; the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, His
Excellency Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee; the President of the Republic
of Maldives, His Excellency Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom; the Prime
Minister of the Kingdom of Nepal, Rt. Hon. Mr. Girija Prasad
Koirala; the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, His
Excellency Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif; and the President of the
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Her Excellency Mrs.
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga met at the Tenth Summit of the
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) at Colombo
from July 29 to 31, 1998, in the year of the Golden Jubilee of the
Independence of Sri Lanka.
REGIONAL COOPERATION
- The Heads of State or Government re-affirmed their firm
commitment to the objectives, principles and provisions of the
Charter of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) and to the pursuit of regional cooperation on the basis of
their acceptance of the principles of sovereign equality,
territorial integrity of States, political independence,
non-interference in each others internal affairs, non-use of force,
the peaceful settlement of all disputes and mutuality of benefit.
- The Heads of State or Government recognised that the rich
potential for productive, equitable regional cooperation among the
Governments and people of South Asia which accounts for a fifth of
humanity should be fully realised.
CULTURAL UNITY
- The Heads of State or Government recognized that South Asia,
while reflecting a rich, complex and varied plurality of cultural
and religious traditions, was heir to a profound common
civilizational continuum of great antiquity which constitutes a
historical basis for sustaining harmonious relations among the
people of the region. They acknowledged that the SAARC process could
draw more deeply from the vitality and strength of South Asia's
shared cultural heritage as a source influencing and enhancing
creative energies in all fields.
- The Heads of State or Government welcomed the offer of Sri Lanka
to host a meeting of the Ministers of Cultural Affairs of SAARC to
prepare a practical Action Plan to network the national institutes
of cultural relations and to establish a South Asian Cultural Center
to promote the distinctive arts of South Asia. They requested the
Government of Sri Lanka to circulate a concept paper on the issues
to be addressed by the meeting including financing arrangements for
the proposed institute.
ENHANCING POLITICAL COOPERATION
- The Heads of State or Government reiterated 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. The Heads of State
or Government further recognized that this process would contribute
to the appreciation of each other’s problems and perceptions as
well as for decisive action in agreed areas of regional cooperation.
APPRAISAL OF SAARC ACTIVITIES
- The Heads of State or Government continued their review of the
nature, extent, and effectiveness of the cooperative activities of
SAARC. They considered the Report and Recommendations of the Group
of Eminent Persons mandated by the Ninth Summit in Male' to
undertake a comprehensive appraisal of SAARC and to develop an
Agenda for 2000 and beyond. They expressed appreciation for the
Chairman of the Ninth Summit, His Excellency Mr. Maumoon Abdul
Gayoom, the President of the Maldives for convening the Group of
Eminent Persons (GEP) and encouraging them to complete their work
within the time frame given to them by the Ninth SAARC Summit.
- The Heads of State or Government directed the Council of
Ministers to examine the Report of the Group of Eminent Persons in
depth at their next Session, taking into consideration the views of
Member States with regard to the viability of the recommendations
and the method of their implementation.
SAARC IN THE CHANGING INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
- The Heads of State or Government assessed the implications of
current global economic developments on the economies of South Asia
and other developing countries. They noted the profundity of the
wide-spread changes being effected in the economic, technological,
social and information fields and their apparent unpredictability.
They expressed serious concern over the severe distortions produced
by the process of unrestrained globalisation as has been evidenced
in the downturn of economies of several Asian States. The challenges
and opportunities inherent in these fast evolving developments could
best be met and the full potential of South Asia realized through
effective practical regional and bilateral cooperation among Member
States.
- They noted that the benefits of the so described "liberalization"
have been disappointingly asymmetrical with the process proceeding
at a much slower pace in areas of special interest to developing
countries. Increased opportunities in trade and investment have
bypassed many developing countries. The Least Developed Countries
have in particular been marginalised through a series of
developments including the shrinking of ODA, concessional and other
financial flows to these countries.
- The Heads of State or Government noted the initiation of links
between SAARC and economic unions and trading groups that were
emerging in the wake of globalization and liberalization and
considered how best relationships of mutual benefit could be
established.
- The Heads of State or Government observed that following the WTO
Ministerial Conference in Geneva, a process has been initiated at
the WTO where implementation issues, built in agenda issues, issues
arising out of the WTO Ministerial Conference and other
multi-lateral trade issues will be considered with a view to making
recommendations to the next Ministerial Conference of the WTO in
1999. These issues and the decisions arising from this process will
have far-reaching consequences for our development strategies and
prospects. The Heads of State or Government, therefore, resolved
that SAARC countries would endeavour to coordinate their decisions
on these issues in areas of common concern so as to protect and
promote the interest of the developing countries. They expressed
concern about the erection of protectionist barriers and the
tendency to impose arbitrary "norms" relating to labour
conditions, environmental regulations, governance and other
extraneous issues to regulate trade exchanges, which would amount to
additional non-tariff barriers, that would have the effect of
restricting market access for developing countries including
preferential access by Least Developed Countries (LDCs) into markets
of developed countries. They agreed on the need for collective
strategies to promote a rule-based, non-discriminatory and equitable
international trading system in which the interests and concerns of
developing countries would be fully safeguarded and served.
- The Heads of State or Government noted that emerging issues
relating to copyright, patents and marketing franchises including on
foodgrains, plants and herbs indigenous to South Asia require firm
collective responses to preserve these bio-resources from
unregulated commercial exploitation by extra-regional interests.
They emphasized in this regard, the principle of sustainable
development of bio-resources and the provisions of the UN Convention
on Bio-diversity which provided for regulated access to such
resources on terms and conditions to be agreed upon with the State
in which such resources are located.
- The Heads of State or Government cautioned that potential efforts
to formulate a new Multilateral Investment Agreement should not
overlook the need to ensure the continued independence of developing
countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to formulate specific
investment policies appropriate to their stage of development.
- While reviewing the beneficial effects of globalization, the
Heads of State or Government stressed the fact that systemic crises
are becoming unpredictable with increased globalization. They
expressed their concern about the shortcomings of the international
monetary and financial system, and its tardiness in anticipating
impending financial market crises sufficiently in advance, so that
pre-emptive remedial action be adopted. They noted that the problem
is systemic, and not unique to Asia, nor confined to emerging
economies, and that it can have global ramifications, unless more
fundamental reforms are put in place.
- They recognized the risk that ad-hoc approaches, however prompt,
once crises supervene, may lead to excessive social costs in the
attempt to restore financial discipline. More effective social
safety nets would, therefore, need to be devised for protecting
vulnerable groups and a more appropriate balance between financing
and adjustment found in a reformed international system or
architecture, if both the economic and social aspirations of SAARC
countries are to be realized. They acknowledged the need to
strengthen the individual financial systems of SAARC countries
through enhancing institutional capacity, surveillance mechanisms as
well as through closer consultations on, and coordination of
macro-economic policies where appropriate.
- The Heads of State or Government recognized that notwithstanding
all national and regional endeavours for economic development and
financial stability, the pervasive global economic environment
continued to exert a major, sometimes negative influence on the
outcome of these endeavours.
- Against this background of the need to address systemic issues,
they agreed on the vital imperative for strengthened cooperation
among SAARC Members to identify, analyze and effectively contend
with the complex multi-faceted challenges inherent in the global
economic environment that is changing so radically, particularly in
this last decade preceding the new millennium. They acknowledged the
need to enhance the collective capacity of SAARC in respect of
policy analysis, with a specific emphasis on international
financial, monetary, trade and investment issues and their domestic
ramifications.
- The Heads of State or Government also expressed their abhorrence
over the practice of imposition of unilateral coercive economic
measures as an instrument of policy against developing countries.
They called for their immediate cessation.
- They stressed the need for more efficient capacity building to
enable informed decision-making in these areas to enable innovative
collective intervention to safeguard South Asian interests in
international negotiations, as well as to develop some edge for
effective leverage in such negotiations. The Heads of State or
Government agreed on the urgent need for harnessing the rich
intellectual and resource capacity of South Asia for this purpose.
- The Heads of State or Government requested Sri Lanka, as
Chairperson of the 10th Summit, to conduct consultations with Member
States for the convening of a network of researchers comprising
members of the Private Sector, Central Banks, Planning Ministries,
Research Institutes and eminent economists nominated by Governments
to identify, analyse and help SAARC faced up to current global,
financial and economic developments affecting the region. They
requested Sri Lanka to co-ordinate on necessary practical measures
while keeping Member States informed in the matter. Heads of State
or Government welcomed the offer of Sri Lanka to host a meeting in
Colombo of representatives of SAARC, nominated by their Governments
to study the matter further and report with practical
recommendations on the matter in advance of the 21st Session of the
Council of Ministers to facilitate early decisions.
ACCELERATION OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION
- The Heads of State or Government assessed progress made in the
two rounds of negotiations already undertaken under SAPTA. They
decided that the third round should be concluded well before the
Twenty-first Session of the Council of Ministers. The Heads of State
or Government decided that to accelerate progress in the next round
of SAPTA negotiations, deeper preferential tariff concessions should
be extended to products which are being actively traded, or are
likely to be traded, among Members; that discriminatory practices
and non-tariff barriers should be simultaneously removed on items in
respect of which tariff concessions are granted or have been granted
earlier. Measures to remove structural impediments should also be
taken in order to move speedily towards the goal of SAFTA. They also
directed that domestic content requirements under SAPTA Rules of
Origin should be reduced and that the SAPTA Committee of
Participants should meet by mid-October ’98 in Colombo to
finalise the extent of reduction in keeping with the decision of the
Second SAARC Commerce Ministers' Meeting. The Heads of State or
Government reaffirmed that measures to enable smaller and Least
Developed Countries to benefit equitably from economic
liberalization were specially important.
- The Heads of State or Government reiterated the importance of
achieving SAFTA as mandated by the Ninth SAARC Summit. To this end
they decided that a Committee of Experts, in consultation with
Member States, be constituted with specific Terms of Reference (TOR)
to work on drafting a comprehensive treaty regime for creating a
free trade area. The Heads of State or Government expressed the view
that such a treaty must incorporate, among other things, binding
time-frames for freeing trade, measures to facilitate trade, and
provisions to ensure an equitable distribution of benefits of trade
to all states, especially for smaller and least developed countries,
including mechanisms for compensation of revenue loss. They
emphasised the importance of finalising the text of the regulatory
framework by the year 2001.
- The Heads of State or Government agreed that the benefits of
economic liberalization would be more extensive and better balanced
through the promotion of trade- creating joint ventures, investment
and trade in services such as tourism.
- The Heads of State or Government noted with satisfaction the
outcome of the Second Meeting of the SAARC Commerce Ministers in
Islamabad and welcomed their decision to coordinate SAARC's position
on issues of common concern at the WTO. They welcomed in this
connection the Declaration issued by the SAARC Commerce Ministers on
the eve of the Second WTO Ministerial Meeting in Geneva, setting out
a SAARC approach on these issues. Recognizing that critical issues
would be decided at the Third WTO Ministerial Conference in the USA
in 1999, the Heads of State or Government urged SAARC Commerce
Ministers to work closely with a view to evolving better
co-ordinated positions on all issues. They directed the Consultative
Group of SAARC Permanent Representatives to the WTO at Geneva to
consult closely with like-minded countries to advance the interests
of developing countries at all WTO Conferences.
- The Heads of State or Government noted the progress made in
preparations for the Second SAARC Trade Fair to be held in Sri Lanka
from September 8-15, 1998. The Heads of State or Government welcomed
the offer of Bangladesh to host the Third Meeting of SAARC Commerce
Ministers in 1999 and the offer of Pakistan to stage the Third SAARC
Trade Fair in 1999.
PEOPLE TO PEOPLE CONTACT
- The Heads of State or Government noted arrangements being
finalized by Sri Lanka to host the First SAARC Film Festival in
Colombo in 1998 in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the
Independence of Sri Lanka.
- The Heads of State or Government stressed that more convenient
travel connections between SAARC countries were essential to
facilitate fruitful interaction among people in the region, in
particular, professional groups, creative artistes, pilgrims and
journalists.
- The Heads of State or Government considered means of encouraging
more productive co-operation and collaboration between governments
and the private sectors, including in the commissioning of studies
relating to regional economic interaction.
- They welcomed the contribution made by the SAARC Chamber of
Commerce and Industry in facilitating the engagement of the private
sector in regional economic interaction as well as initiating
linkages with other regions for the purpose of promoting SAARC
exports. The Heads of State or Government noted that a document
entitled "Road Map to SAFTA" was presented by the
President of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) to
the Chairperson of the Twentieth Session of the Council of
Ministers.
LINKS WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
- The Heads of State or Government noted links initiated between
SAARC and other international and regional organizations. They
considered the prospects for the development of SAARC projects and
programmes in association with such organizations with which SAARC
has cooperative arrangements as well as through other forms of
cooperation. The Heads of State or Government were of the view that
priority needs to be given in establishing contact with those
regional groupings which have experience in economic cooperation and
functional regional cooperation.
- The Heads of State or Government also noted proposals for
developing cooperation between SAARC and individual States outside
the region. They requested the Council of Ministers to consider such
proposals with a view to developing such contacts on the basis of
mutual benefit and for the advancement of SAARC objectives.
PROJECTION OF COMMON POSITIONS
- The Heads of State or Government reiterated their resolve to
promote the articulation of joint positions at the United Nations
and other fora where such action would be in the clear interest of
all members of the Association.
SUB-REGIONAL COOPERATION
- With the objective of enhancing regional solidarity and promoting
overall development within SAARC, the Heads of State or Government
encouraged the development of specific projects relevant to the
individual needs of three or more Member States under the provisions
of Articles VII and X of the Charter.
SECURITY OF SMALL STATES
- The Heads of State or Government recognized that due to their
particular vulnerability, small States require special measures of
support from the international community for the safeguarding of
their sovereign independence and territorial integrity. They
reiterated that real protection of small States should be firmly
rooted in 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 stressed should be ensured by all
the countries either severally or collectively through the pursuit
of appropriate action.
SPECIAL MEASURES FOR 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
emphasised 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.
EDUCATION AND LITERACY
- The Heads of State or Government were in agreement that
illiteracy was a major impediment to economic development and social
emancipation and that the eradication of illiteracy in the Region
including through co-operative endeavours within SAARC must continue
to be pursued resolutely.
- The Heads of State or Government noted that the concepts of Open
Learning and Distance Education could help substantially towards
equal opportunities and access to knowledge. The Heads of State or
Government directed that SAARC should build on the substantial
expertise already existing in the Region in the field of open
education, by establishing a SAARC Forum of Vice Chancellors of Open
Universities. This Forum, consisting of regional leaders in the
field, should strengthen cooperation in areas such as the sharing
and joint development of programmes, credit transfers for specific
programmes and the translation of existing programmes.
- The Heads of State or Government urged the Forum, to spearhead
the development of distance education outside the Open University
System as well, drawing on the advances in Information Technology,
to reach out to the remote and under-privileged sections. They
welcomed the offer of Sri Lanka to host a meeting of
Vice-Chancellors of SAARC Open Universities during the last quarter
of 1998 to discuss the modalities for the establishment of the Forum
and to draw up a programme to achieve the objectives identified by
the Heads of State or Government. The Heads of State or Government
requested the Forum to report to the Standing Committee on a
continuous basis on its programmes.
ERADICATION OF POVERTY IN SOUTH ASIA
- The Heads of State or Government reiterated the commitment of
SAARC to the eradication of poverty in the Region at the earliest
possible, preferably by the year 2002. They emphasised the need to
encourage maximum participation by target groups in the formulation
and implementation of poverty eradication programmes. The Heads of
State or Government were of the view that such participation is
essential for success of efforts in this field. They stressed the
need for effective utilisation of the SAARC Three-Tier Mechanism on
Poverty Eradication and in that context welcomed the offer of the
Government of Pakistan to host the next meeting of the SAARC
Finance/Planning Ministers under the Mechanism in October 1998.
- The Heads of State or Government noted that the South Asian
countries have provided leadership in developing and implementing
Micro Credit Programmes, which have immense potential to contribute
to the eradication of poverty. They were of the view that their
respective programmes in this regard have proven to be effective and
Member States would benefit by sharing experiences and exchanging
information and expertise in this important area.
- The Heads of State or Government noted that Human Resource
Development is a key element in any poverty eradication programme.
The Heads of State or Government, therefore, agreed that once the
SAARC Centre for Human Resource Development in Islamabad is
established, it could look in to the possibility of its contributing
to the strengthening of the human resource development components of
the regional poverty eradication programmes.
SOCIAL CHARTER
- The Heads of State or Government reviewed the progress made in
the social sector by SAARC and determined that, in order to increase
effectiveness, it would be necessary to develop, beyond national
plans of action, a regional dimension of action including a specific
role for SAARC. In this context, they agreed that it would be
necessary for SAARC to develop a Social Charter, which would focus
on drawing up targets with a broad range to be achieved across the
region in the areas of poverty eradication, population
stabilisation, the empowerment of women, youth mobilisation, human
resource development, the promotion of health and nutrition and the
protection of children. The Heads of State or Government further
directed the Council of Ministers to initiate work on drawing up a
Social Charter.
COMMUNICATIONS
- The Heads of State or Government welcomed the results of the
First Conference of SAARC Communication Ministers held in Colombo in
May, 1998. They noted that technological advances were making
telecommunications an important medium for socio-economic
development and developing commercial and business relations as well
as promotion of people-to-people contact. They called for the speedy
implementation of the Plan of Action adopted by the First Meeting of
the SAARC Communication Ministers.
TOURISM
- The Heads of State or Government recognized that further efforts
were required for South Asia to effectively tap the economic
potential afforded by the global tourist industry as well as to
encourage intra-SAARC tourism. They welcomed the convening of the
First SAARC Tourism Ministers' Meeting in Colombo as a step towards
this end and called for the effective implementation of its
decisions, including the encouragement of active private sector
participation in the promotion of tourism, both intra-regionally and
internationally, simplification of visa-procedures for tourists and
pilgrims, more convenient air and other travel links among SAARC
countries including special regional fares and the co-ordination of
activities of tour operators.
- The Heads of State or Government identified the need to
strengthen the existing air services between their respective
Capitals, with a view to both facilitating tourism as well as people
to people contacts. They called in this regard, for an early meeting
of the Chairpersons/Chief Executive Officers of the national air
lines.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- The Heads of State or Government noted that the development of a
regional self-reliance capability for South Asia in scientific
research and development was essential, given a global context in
which barriers to the free flow of technology still remained in
place. The Heads of State or Government appreciated the efforts to
foster under the SAARC umbrella, collective co-operation in this
field.
- The Heads of State or Government welcomed the offer by the
Government of India to hold a Special Meeting of SAARC Science and
Technology Ministers to consider a SAARC Technology Initiative to
Identify and implement specific regional projects in rural areas
which would have the direct impact in improving the day-to-day life
of people there. Such an initiative could include rural
telecommunications, drinking water and sanitation and improvement of
life standards.
- The Heads of State or Government reiterated their earlier call
for the effective and rapid institutionalization of SAARC
co-operation in the field of bio-technology. They pointed out that
South Asia with its vast reservoir of bio-diversity and tropical
climate, has substantial potential for bio-industry development on a
sustainable basis. Many of the food and nutritional needs of the
SAARC region could be met by the application of bio-technology.
Contemporary developments in intellectual property and patent law,
moreover, heightened the need for vigilance against encroachment on
the regional bio-diversity heritage by external entities.
- The Heads of State or Government accordingly requested the
Standing Committee, with assistance of the SAARC Secretariat, to
report to the forthcoming Twenty-First Session of the Council of
Ministers on practical and cost effective measures towards rapidly
operationalising SAARC cooperation in bio-technology.
ENVIRONMENT
- The Heads of State or Government expressed their deep
satisfaction at the positive outcome of the Environment Ministers’
Conference held in Malé in October 1997, and called for the
effective and early implementation of the SAARC Environment Action
Plan. In this context, they welcomed the offer of Maldives to
prepare a feasibility study on the establishment of a Coastal Zone
Management Centre. The Heads of State or Government also committed
their governments to prepare National Environment Action Plans and
State of the Environment Reports before the end of 1998.
- The Heads of State or Government expressed their satisfaction
over the adoption of a common position by Member States prior to the
Third Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Kyoto, Japan and
welcomed the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change in December 1997, and
underscored the importance of the Protocol for the protection of the
climate system. They urged all industrial countries to ratify the
Protocol and to undertake urgent and effective steps to implement
the commitments undertaken by them to reduce their emissions of
green-house gases.
- The Heads of State or Government also emphasised the need for
complementary action by organisations and institutions in the region
in their efforts to protect the environment and achieve sustainable
development in the region.
- The Heads of State or Government noted that the SAARC Environment
Ministers would be meeting in Sri Lanka in late 1998. They urged
that the Ministers should at this forthcoming meeting also mandate
any specific measures required for SAARC to further strengthen
cooperation on environment issues, with other international or
regional organizations engaged in the same field.
YOUTH
- The Heads of State or Government affirmed the importance they
attached to providing adequate opportunities to youth in South Asia
to participate productively in national development and underscored
the need for developing programmes in this regard at the national
and regional levels.
CHILDREN
- Recalling targets and objectives set out in the Rawalpindi
Declaration of 1996, the Heads of State or Government noted that the
1997 Review of the Situation of Children in South Asia had revealed
progress in the reduction of infant mortality and increased coverage
of immunization programmes. They stressed, however, that continued
efforts required to be sustained in these areas. Serious efforts
were also required in respect of education for all children and the
reduction of gender disparities. In addition to national programmes,
the Heads of State or Government called for the identification of
practical regional programmes which could benefit from cooperation
with relevant regional and international organisations with which
SAARC has cooperative arrangements for the promotion of the welfare
of children.
- The Heads of State or Government condemned the exploitation of
children by terrorist groups in hostilities and called for special
measures for the psychological, physical and social rehabilitation
of child victims. In this respect, the Heads of State or Government
noted the initiative taken by Maldives in pursuance of their
directive at the Ninth SAARC Summit in drafting the Convention on
Regional Arrangements for the Promotion of Child Welfare in South
Asia. They welcomed the offer of Maldives to hold an Expert Group
Meeting to finalise the draft Convention for its adoption at the
Eleventh SAARC Summit.
SITUATION OF WOMEN AND THE GIRL CHILD
- The Heads of State or Government noted that many groups of women
and girl children in South Asia continue to be in disadvantaged
positions and lack equal opportunities for economic and social
development. They were of the view that sustained efforts and
practical affirmative action was required to offset the effects of
discriminatory, social and psychological perceptions and to empower
women through affirmative action, including where necessary,
legislative measures. The Heads of State or Government condemned in
particular violence against women and acts of discrimination and
humiliation which tend to depress the status of women. They also
expressed concern over the plight of women and girl children in
situations of conflict. Equal opportunities in education, health
facilities and nutrition were vital for the integration of women in
the mainstream of national development. They agreed to work in close
association, where possible, with professional and other women's
groups in the region to ameliorate their conditions.
- The Heads of State or Government recalled that the Ninth SAARC
Summit expressed concern at the trafficking of women and children
within and between countries and pledged to coordinate efforts of
Member States to take effective measures to address this problem. In
this context, they welcomed the finalisation of the draft text on
the Regional Convention on Combating the Crime of Trafficking in
Women and Children for Prostitution and noted that this would be a
vital instrument in dealing with this problem. They approved that
the Convention be signed at the Eleventh SAARC Summit.
- The Heads of State or Government also recommended that the
feasibility of establishing a Regional Fund for Rehabilitation of
Victims of Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution on a
voluntary basis may be explored.
- The Heads of State or Government were also of the view that the
scope of the Convention should be broadened to cover purposes other
than prostitution.
- The Heads of State or Government noted that a gender
disaggregated data-base on the basis of data provided by Member
States would be a valuable means of assisting the formulation of
national and regional policies and programmes in respect of women
and the girl child.
HEALTH
- The Heads of State or Government noted the rich heritage of
traditional systems of medicine (TSM) in the region. They observed
that regional cooperation in this area would be worthwhile and
relevant for meeting basic health needs. They welcomed the offer of
India to host the First Health Ministers Conference to evolve
proposals for cooperation in this field.
- The Heads of State or Government urged that the regional
pharmaceutical industries should strengthen cooperation. They were
further of the view that the Member States could establish Action
Committees in terms of Article VII of the SAARC Charter for such
cooperation, if required.
DISABLED PERSONS
- The Heads of State or Government recalled the Islamabad
Resolution on Disabled Persons and underscored the importance of
having a very definite humanistic approach to ensuring the welfare
of the 100 million disabled persons of this region. In this respect,
the Heads of State or Government accepted the proposal of the Prime
Minister of Bangladesh for the establishment of a SAARC Voluntary
Fund for Disabled Persons.
INFORMATION
- The Heads of State or Government welcomed the recommendations of
the First Meeting of SAARC Information Ministers held in Dhaka in
April, 1998 and the offer of Pakistan to host the Second Meeting of
Information Ministers of SAARC Countries.
- The Heads of State or Government called for concerted endeavours
for the promotion of practical programmes among South Asian
countries, including through professional organizations, in the
field of information and media exchanges benefitting from
technological advances. Such action would help promote deeper
understanding of issues common to the region, as well as to project
a more balanced view of developments in the region. They welcomed
the offer of India to host the First Meeting of SAARC Editors and
Journalists.
TERRORISM AND DRUG TRAFFICKING
- The Heads of State or Government recognized that the Member
States and peoples of South Asia continue to face the serious threat
of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and drug
trafficking. They reiterated their firm commitment to combat these
activities in the region. They emphasized 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 urged all Member States to
enhance cooperation against terrorism, wherever, by whomever,
against whoever it occurs and to fully observe and implement the
SAARC Regional Convention on Terrorism.
- The Heads of State or Government affirmed that criminal acts
intended to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group
of persons or particular persons, for whatever purposes, are
unjustifiable in any circumstances.
- 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 that two SAARC Conferences
on Cooperation in Police Matters had been held since 1996. They
called for the continued sharing of expertise with regard to the
different areas of police investigation, and investigation of
organized crime and drug related crimes.
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
- The Heads of State or Government taking note of the 50th
Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, reaffirmed
their commitment to the further promotion of human rights and
fundamental freedoms by strengthening the respective national
institutions in South Asia in this field. The Leaders agreed that
tolerance and mutual accommodation, combined with the strengthening
of participatory governance, constituted the foundation for the
sustainable economic and social development of the SAARC region.
INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
- The Heads of State or Government consulted informally on a range
of international issues, particularly those which have a bearing on
South Asia. They re-affirmed their strong commitment to the purposes
and principles of the UN Charter and agreed that their delegations
would work closely in the ongoing negotiations for the reform and
strengthening of the UN system, so that the Organisation could be
more democratic, efficient and financially viable and responsive to
the interests of its membership, especially developing countries.
- The Heads of State or Government also underscored the importance
of the role of the Non-Aligned Movement in promoting a just and
equitable global order and called for the further enhancing of the
efforts of the Movement to influence positively contemporary
international relations. In this context, they expressed full
confidence that the Twelfth Summit of the Movement scheduled to take
place in South Africa would contribute towards augmenting the
Movement's effectiveness.
- The Heads of State or Government were of the view that stability,
peace and security in South Asia could not be considered in
isolation of the global security environment. Although great power
rivalry which the NAM had consistently opposed, no longer posed a
serious threat and the danger of a global nuclear conflagration had
abated, yet some States had sought to maintain huge arsenals of
nuclear weapons. The NPT and the CTBT, to which some SAARC members
were signatories, had not led to any progress towards nuclear
disarmament nor prevented proliferation. They underscored their
commitment to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons and the
need for promoting nuclear disarmament on a universal basis, under
effective international control. They recognised that global
non-proliferation goals cannot be achieved in the absence of
progress towards nuclear disarmament and in this context called upon
all nuclear weapon states, whether party or non-party to the NPT to
engage constructively through a transparent and credible process of
negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament.
- The Heads of State or Government therefore urged the Conference
on Disarmament to commence negotiations on a comprehensive,
universal and non-discriminatory international instrument
prohibiting the use or the threat of nuclear weapons as well as
eliminating such weapons in existing arsenals.
- The Heads of State or Government noted the outcome of the recent
UN Diplomatic Conference on the establishment of an International
Criminal Court and the fact that the Conference had not addressed
such issues as the crime of drug trafficking and the crime of
terrorism with its use of indiscriminate violence aimed at innocent
civilians and use of weapons of mass destruction. They emphasised
the need to ensure that the proposed Court should respect the
sovereignty of States consistent with the principle of
complementarity with national jurisdiction on which the Statute of
the Court is based.
- The Heads of State or Government welcomed the enhanced status
accorded to Palestine at UN fora. They however expressed growing
concern at numerous setbacks affecting the peace process in the
Middle East, including illegal attempts to change the jurisdiction
and borders of Jerusalem. They re-affirmed their support for the
achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace based on
Security Council Resolution 242 (1967) and Resolution 338 (1973) to
restore the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people.
- The Heads of State or Government called for intensification of
efforts for promoting peace and stability at the global and regional
levels for realising universal progress and prosperity.
DATES AND VENUE OF THE ELEVENTH MEETING OF THE HEADS OF STATE OR
GOVERNMENT
- The Heads of State or Government accepted with deep appreciation
the offer of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal to host the
Eleventh SAARC Summit in the second half of 1999.
- The Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
the Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan expressed their appreciation for
the skilful manner in which the President of the Democratic
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka had conducted the meeting and guided
its deliberations, in her capacity as Chairperson. They also
expressed their deep gratitude for the warm and generous hospitality
extended to them by the Government and the people of Sri Lanka and
the excellent arrangements made for the Summit and the meetings
preceding it.
|
