Expectations from Colombo summit of Saarc
Syed Fattahul Alim | Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Leaders of the 1.5 billion-strong South Asian nations will again meet in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, for the 15th time to discuss issues of mutual interests in order to enhance cooperation among the member states. The people of the member nations of Saarc no more wait eagerly for the day when the next summit of this regional forum would be held, though in the beginning their level of expectation was very high. In fact, that was only expected of the people of this sub-continent as they inherited an identical history of two centuries-long subjugation by the British colonialists. And even the struggle for independence of all the peoples of the region had a common bond.
What is of greater significance is that the peoples of the three largest nations of the regional forum in terms of their population-Bangladesh, India and Pakistan-fought their anti-colonialist struggle under an identical leadership. Unfortunately though, even after 23 years of its establishment and notwithstanding their identical legacies, these bigger partners of the regional forum are yet to fulfil the expectations their peoples have been cherishing since the regional forum came into existence more than two decades back.
True, the other regional economic blocs in the world did not become successful overnight. Even the question of integration is still a big issue in one of the more successful regional forums of the world, the European Union, EU. But the EU nations still deserve their plaudits for the simple fact that they had a very bitter past as they had fought with one another for hundreds of years. And even if one may forget the wars of the remoter past, how can one forget the two all-engulfing, cataclysmic World Wars that all but destroyed the whole continent. But they are so pragmatic that they have been quick to bury their past and join their hands to build a new future.
The brighter side of the sub-continental nations is that only two nations among them-India and Pakistan-have a bitter history of brief military engagements and a long-drawn history of rivalry. But in spite of their wars and rivalries they maintained their diplomatic relationship, with only a few occasional face-offs and diplomatic rows leaving to mutual expulsion of their diplomats. Even then, one cannot say that their relations did ever go beyond repairs. The history of the mutual relationship between other nations of the Saarc, on the other hand, has been rather warm, with no reasons for any misgivings among them. So, unlike Europe or the other regional club, the ASEAN, histories and cultures of whose member nations are more diverse, the composition of Saarc is more homogeneous. With the induction of Afghanistan as the eighth member of this South Asian regional grouping, the element of diversity has only increased a little bit. But diversity has never been a barrier to friendship and communications among the peoples. Rather the infusion of the element of diversity contributes towards further enriching the forum in question. Interestingly though, the largest nation on earth, the People's Republic of China, has expressed its intent to become a member of Saarc. Similarly, Myanmar, too, has showed its willingness to be a member of Saarc.
Though the practical aspects of considering China's case are yet to be sorted out in their appropriate perspectives, it cannot be said either that it is quite an impossible proposition. For the regional blocs we are concerned with here are not military ones. Those are purely economic unions for enhancing mutual cooperation and communication along the economic and cultural lines. So, cultural diversity should not come in the way of such unions. In fact, the interest shown by China to join Saarc points only to the importance that country attaches to the South Asian regional forum. But do the nations of Saarc, especially those having such an enviable past of camaraderie, understand this? It is not just China, the world at large is also watching the developments in Saarc with keen interest. For the US, South Korea, Japan, the European Union, the ASEAN, the Russian Federation are all interested to have observers' status with Saarc. The interests shown by the rest of the world about Saarc is also not without reasons, for this is the biggest regional forum created so far on earth, if only one considers the number of people that has come under the umbrella of this forum. But have the countries that took the initiative to launch this regional forum 23 years back been able to appreciate the true significance of the forum they created? Looking at the snails' pace with which Saarc is progressing, one cannot say that in the near future there is going to be any significant breakthrough in this respect. And the peoples of this regional bloc, too, have resigned themselves to such state of affairs, which is why the annual events of the Saarc summits pass as usual. The common people look at it as one of the other such state level events taking place in their capital city.
The 15th Saarc summit is scheduled to be held in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo between August 2 and 3 next. The issues to come under review in the upcoming Saarc summit among others include regional food security, energy crisis, water resources management, trade, climate change and so on. However, the crucial threat that the countries of the region are now exposed to is coming from militancy and terrorism. So, on top of the agenda is placed the regional deal titled Saarc Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. Terrorism and militancy are undoubtedly a big threat to the region's economic development. And it has also traditionally been the cause of mutual distrust and suspicion among the member nations. If Saarc is to make progress in the major areas of cooperation as indicated in its original charter, it is very important that the distrust be dispelled as soon as possible. The Convention to be signed on this score should create the scope for the members of Saarc to work in close cooperation in identifying the sources of crimes including terrorism and militancy and combating those together. Frankly said, this is also one of the reasons that has halted the progress of the regional forum.
The richer and more powerful members of Saarc should be more sensitive to the internal problems of each member country. Any patronising or big brotherly attitude on the part of the larger member towards the weaker or less resourceful partner of the forum does only fly in the face of the fundamental spirit of Saarc. That is because, all members of Saarc are equal in their statuses regardless of their size, level of prosperity or military might. Similarly, sooner the small irritants between the member nations are addressed, the faster and better will be the growth of the regional forum.
Another deal the 15th Saarc summit is going to put its seal on is the one billion dollar Saarc Development Fund. The size of the fund, though a modest one considering the huge population of the region, can still be looked upon as the first right step forward towards creating the basis for a stronger tie among the member states. The fund dedicated to poverty alleviation, welfare and regional economic growth promises to enhance people to people cooperation through launching of multilateral projects which would work through the Fund's three outlets-the social, economic and infrastructural windows.
It is hoped that the Colombo summit of Saarc will chart out a fresh course for this forum of one and a half billion people. It is time Saarc must live up to its expectations, for the whole world is watching it with keen interest.
What is of greater significance is that the peoples of the three largest nations of the regional forum in terms of their population-Bangladesh, India and Pakistan-fought their anti-colonialist struggle under an identical leadership. Unfortunately though, even after 23 years of its establishment and notwithstanding their identical legacies, these bigger partners of the regional forum are yet to fulfil the expectations their peoples have been cherishing since the regional forum came into existence more than two decades back.
True, the other regional economic blocs in the world did not become successful overnight. Even the question of integration is still a big issue in one of the more successful regional forums of the world, the European Union, EU. But the EU nations still deserve their plaudits for the simple fact that they had a very bitter past as they had fought with one another for hundreds of years. And even if one may forget the wars of the remoter past, how can one forget the two all-engulfing, cataclysmic World Wars that all but destroyed the whole continent. But they are so pragmatic that they have been quick to bury their past and join their hands to build a new future.
The brighter side of the sub-continental nations is that only two nations among them-India and Pakistan-have a bitter history of brief military engagements and a long-drawn history of rivalry. But in spite of their wars and rivalries they maintained their diplomatic relationship, with only a few occasional face-offs and diplomatic rows leaving to mutual expulsion of their diplomats. Even then, one cannot say that their relations did ever go beyond repairs. The history of the mutual relationship between other nations of the Saarc, on the other hand, has been rather warm, with no reasons for any misgivings among them. So, unlike Europe or the other regional club, the ASEAN, histories and cultures of whose member nations are more diverse, the composition of Saarc is more homogeneous. With the induction of Afghanistan as the eighth member of this South Asian regional grouping, the element of diversity has only increased a little bit. But diversity has never been a barrier to friendship and communications among the peoples. Rather the infusion of the element of diversity contributes towards further enriching the forum in question. Interestingly though, the largest nation on earth, the People's Republic of China, has expressed its intent to become a member of Saarc. Similarly, Myanmar, too, has showed its willingness to be a member of Saarc.
Though the practical aspects of considering China's case are yet to be sorted out in their appropriate perspectives, it cannot be said either that it is quite an impossible proposition. For the regional blocs we are concerned with here are not military ones. Those are purely economic unions for enhancing mutual cooperation and communication along the economic and cultural lines. So, cultural diversity should not come in the way of such unions. In fact, the interest shown by China to join Saarc points only to the importance that country attaches to the South Asian regional forum. But do the nations of Saarc, especially those having such an enviable past of camaraderie, understand this? It is not just China, the world at large is also watching the developments in Saarc with keen interest. For the US, South Korea, Japan, the European Union, the ASEAN, the Russian Federation are all interested to have observers' status with Saarc. The interests shown by the rest of the world about Saarc is also not without reasons, for this is the biggest regional forum created so far on earth, if only one considers the number of people that has come under the umbrella of this forum. But have the countries that took the initiative to launch this regional forum 23 years back been able to appreciate the true significance of the forum they created? Looking at the snails' pace with which Saarc is progressing, one cannot say that in the near future there is going to be any significant breakthrough in this respect. And the peoples of this regional bloc, too, have resigned themselves to such state of affairs, which is why the annual events of the Saarc summits pass as usual. The common people look at it as one of the other such state level events taking place in their capital city.
The 15th Saarc summit is scheduled to be held in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo between August 2 and 3 next. The issues to come under review in the upcoming Saarc summit among others include regional food security, energy crisis, water resources management, trade, climate change and so on. However, the crucial threat that the countries of the region are now exposed to is coming from militancy and terrorism. So, on top of the agenda is placed the regional deal titled Saarc Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. Terrorism and militancy are undoubtedly a big threat to the region's economic development. And it has also traditionally been the cause of mutual distrust and suspicion among the member nations. If Saarc is to make progress in the major areas of cooperation as indicated in its original charter, it is very important that the distrust be dispelled as soon as possible. The Convention to be signed on this score should create the scope for the members of Saarc to work in close cooperation in identifying the sources of crimes including terrorism and militancy and combating those together. Frankly said, this is also one of the reasons that has halted the progress of the regional forum.
The richer and more powerful members of Saarc should be more sensitive to the internal problems of each member country. Any patronising or big brotherly attitude on the part of the larger member towards the weaker or less resourceful partner of the forum does only fly in the face of the fundamental spirit of Saarc. That is because, all members of Saarc are equal in their statuses regardless of their size, level of prosperity or military might. Similarly, sooner the small irritants between the member nations are addressed, the faster and better will be the growth of the regional forum.
Another deal the 15th Saarc summit is going to put its seal on is the one billion dollar Saarc Development Fund. The size of the fund, though a modest one considering the huge population of the region, can still be looked upon as the first right step forward towards creating the basis for a stronger tie among the member states. The fund dedicated to poverty alleviation, welfare and regional economic growth promises to enhance people to people cooperation through launching of multilateral projects which would work through the Fund's three outlets-the social, economic and infrastructural windows.
It is hoped that the Colombo summit of Saarc will chart out a fresh course for this forum of one and a half billion people. It is time Saarc must live up to its expectations, for the whole world is watching it with keen interest.