Colombo Declaration to focus on efforts to boost economic growth
Friday, 1 August 2008
SAARC leaders at the 15th summit are expected to adopt a 37-point Colombo Declaration focusing on collective regional efforts in core areas of food and energy security, trade, climate change and terrorism, reports UNB from Colombo.
A draft of the declaration made available to UNB says that regional cooperation must be people-oriented, so that SAARC continues to strengthen with expectation as a robust partnership for economic growth and social progress for the people of South Asia.
The draft declaration was finalised by the SAARC Council of Ministers (foreign ministers) meeting that concluded Thursday. It would be approved by the Summit leaders who will meet on August 2-3.
The Council of Ministers decided to issue a separate statement on food security alongside the Colombo Declaration, considering the critical importance of the subject that worries the world at present.
In their deliberations the SAARC foreign ministers stressed on making the SAARC Food Bank operational with contribution from the member-states. They suggested short-and long-term measures to tackle the rice deficit. The measures include research and development in agriculture and sharing agriculture technology to increase food production in the region.
The draft declaration stresses access to energy that is critical for growth and development in South Asia. It observes the escalation of oil prices threatens both the energy security as well as economic growth of the region.
The draft declaration recognises the need to develop and conserve conventional sources of energy and build up alternative energy resources, including hydro-power, solar, wind and bio-energy. It attached importance to sharing expertise.
In the declaration the South Asian leaders are going to make a call for developing the regional hydro potential, grid connectivity and gas pipelines.
On the issue of climate change, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) stresses cooperation within an expanded regional environmental protection framework to deal with climate-change issues. It adopts SAARC Action Plan and Dhaka Declaration on Climate Change. It calls for cooperation for capacity building, development of CDM projects and mass awareness.
The forum suggests creating a Natural Disaster Rapid Response
Mechanism to meet emergencies caused by natural disasters under the SAAC Disaster Management Centre.
On SAARC Development Fund (SDF) charter, which will be signed at the summit, the draft declaration calls for early ratification of the SDF charter to finance poverty alleviation projects in the member-countries.
On SAFTA, the draft declaration calls for early implementation of the decision to revise the sensitive lists by SAFTA Ministerial Council. It says while revising the sensitive lists special consideration should be given to SAARC LDCs. It asks SAFTA Committee of Experts to quickly resolve the issue of non-tariff and para-tariff measures to enhance the trade under SAFTA.
It approves the decision of the SAFTA Ministerial Council to start negotiation on the Framework Agreement on Trade in Services.
On the issue of terrorism, the draft declaration calls for strong cooperation in the fight against terrorism and trans-national crimes among relevant agencies of the member-states.
It emphasises completion of all legislative and other measures to implement within the member-states the provisions of the Regional Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
The draft declaration calls for early ratification and implementation of SAARC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters that will be signed at the 15th summit.
On transport, it asks Inter-Governmental Group on Transport to examine and finalise the draft text of the Motor Vehicle Agreement for Regularisation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic among the SAARC member-states.
It suggests developing the drafts of a Regional Transport and Transit Agreement and a Regional Multilateral Railway Agreement.
On water resources, the draft declaration carries concern at global water crisis and calls for conservation of water resources through traditional conservation practices such as rainwater harvesting.
On women and children, it calls for bringing women into the mainstream of development on the basis of gender equality. It focuses on women's economic empowerment and skills development while addressing key health issues and violence against women.
The summit declaration welcomes Australia and Myanmar as observers of SAARC as well as interest of some observers to take part in the SAARC projects as per the forum's guidelines.
A draft of the declaration made available to UNB says that regional cooperation must be people-oriented, so that SAARC continues to strengthen with expectation as a robust partnership for economic growth and social progress for the people of South Asia.
The draft declaration was finalised by the SAARC Council of Ministers (foreign ministers) meeting that concluded Thursday. It would be approved by the Summit leaders who will meet on August 2-3.
The Council of Ministers decided to issue a separate statement on food security alongside the Colombo Declaration, considering the critical importance of the subject that worries the world at present.
In their deliberations the SAARC foreign ministers stressed on making the SAARC Food Bank operational with contribution from the member-states. They suggested short-and long-term measures to tackle the rice deficit. The measures include research and development in agriculture and sharing agriculture technology to increase food production in the region.
The draft declaration stresses access to energy that is critical for growth and development in South Asia. It observes the escalation of oil prices threatens both the energy security as well as economic growth of the region.
The draft declaration recognises the need to develop and conserve conventional sources of energy and build up alternative energy resources, including hydro-power, solar, wind and bio-energy. It attached importance to sharing expertise.
In the declaration the South Asian leaders are going to make a call for developing the regional hydro potential, grid connectivity and gas pipelines.
On the issue of climate change, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) stresses cooperation within an expanded regional environmental protection framework to deal with climate-change issues. It adopts SAARC Action Plan and Dhaka Declaration on Climate Change. It calls for cooperation for capacity building, development of CDM projects and mass awareness.
The forum suggests creating a Natural Disaster Rapid Response
Mechanism to meet emergencies caused by natural disasters under the SAAC Disaster Management Centre.
On SAARC Development Fund (SDF) charter, which will be signed at the summit, the draft declaration calls for early ratification of the SDF charter to finance poverty alleviation projects in the member-countries.
On SAFTA, the draft declaration calls for early implementation of the decision to revise the sensitive lists by SAFTA Ministerial Council. It says while revising the sensitive lists special consideration should be given to SAARC LDCs. It asks SAFTA Committee of Experts to quickly resolve the issue of non-tariff and para-tariff measures to enhance the trade under SAFTA.
It approves the decision of the SAFTA Ministerial Council to start negotiation on the Framework Agreement on Trade in Services.
On the issue of terrorism, the draft declaration calls for strong cooperation in the fight against terrorism and trans-national crimes among relevant agencies of the member-states.
It emphasises completion of all legislative and other measures to implement within the member-states the provisions of the Regional Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
The draft declaration calls for early ratification and implementation of SAARC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters that will be signed at the 15th summit.
On transport, it asks Inter-Governmental Group on Transport to examine and finalise the draft text of the Motor Vehicle Agreement for Regularisation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic among the SAARC member-states.
It suggests developing the drafts of a Regional Transport and Transit Agreement and a Regional Multilateral Railway Agreement.
On water resources, the draft declaration carries concern at global water crisis and calls for conservation of water resources through traditional conservation practices such as rainwater harvesting.
On women and children, it calls for bringing women into the mainstream of development on the basis of gender equality. It focuses on women's economic empowerment and skills development while addressing key health issues and violence against women.
The summit declaration welcomes Australia and Myanmar as observers of SAARC as well as interest of some observers to take part in the SAARC projects as per the forum's guidelines.