SAARC leaders may reach consensus on climate, energy, food issues at Colombo
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury Wednesday said the SAARC leaders would be able to reach at higher levels of understanding at the Colombo summit on climate change, energy and food issues which are critically important to all the member states, reports UNB.
"We'll continue to discuss the climate change, and I am sure we will come to some understandings both in the formal meetings and in the retreat during the SAARC summit," he told reporters after a meeting with SAARC Secretary General Dr Sheel Kanta Sharma at the Foreign Ministry.
Asked if SAARC Fund on Climate Change would be launched at the 15th summit in Colombo, the Adviser said, "This is a continuing dialogue, and we hope to reach at some kind of understanding."
He, however, did not say precisely whether any such fund like SAARC Climate Change Fund will be formed or not. "It's very difficult to say something which is not on the horizon," he noted.
On the issue the SAARC secretary general, he said, "We've to take steps with the support of all the members."
Iftekhar said SAARC is evolving into a new stage of regional cooperation, and the forthcoming summit in Colombo will take the "world's largest regional grouping in terms of population" to higher levels of understanding on issues such as energy, food security and environment.
Dr Sharma praised Bangladesh for conceiving the idea of SAARC, and said Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury, who has had a very distinguished and illustrious diplomatic career and had been involved with the birth of SAARC, was well-placed to render fruitful advice on issues connected with SAARC.
"We'll continue to discuss the climate change, and I am sure we will come to some understandings both in the formal meetings and in the retreat during the SAARC summit," he told reporters after a meeting with SAARC Secretary General Dr Sheel Kanta Sharma at the Foreign Ministry.
Asked if SAARC Fund on Climate Change would be launched at the 15th summit in Colombo, the Adviser said, "This is a continuing dialogue, and we hope to reach at some kind of understanding."
He, however, did not say precisely whether any such fund like SAARC Climate Change Fund will be formed or not. "It's very difficult to say something which is not on the horizon," he noted.
On the issue the SAARC secretary general, he said, "We've to take steps with the support of all the members."
Iftekhar said SAARC is evolving into a new stage of regional cooperation, and the forthcoming summit in Colombo will take the "world's largest regional grouping in terms of population" to higher levels of understanding on issues such as energy, food security and environment.
Dr Sharma praised Bangladesh for conceiving the idea of SAARC, and said Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury, who has had a very distinguished and illustrious diplomatic career and had been involved with the birth of SAARC, was well-placed to render fruitful advice on issues connected with SAARC.