The Thimphu Declaration and Statement
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
ON 28 April, the 16th SAARC Summit met in picturesque Thimphu, capital of the Kingdom of Bhutan. The Summit marked the 25th anniversary of its founding. SAARC has come a long way since its inception. Though it may not be able to match the record of the EU in terms of economic and fiscal integration the results achieved are remarkable.
This is especially so in view of the strained relations between its two big members -- India and Pakistan. Actually the unresolved disputes between them have been the biggest deterrent to its rapid progress. However, that the South Asian nations have been able to achieve significant economic integration despite that divide is a sign of the maturity of its leaders, including those of India and Pakistan. By now SAARC has the institutional mechanisms in place to further strengthen its position. The agreement on cooperation in fighting terrorism is a case in point.
Numerous criticisms of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation notwithstanding, it has always been a major event for the region when the SAARC summit is held. Amidst the colourful decorations and green surrounding of Thimphu, the 16th SAARC Summit opened in grandeur. Stories of achievements made by member nations and new commitments leaders made at the summit reverberated from the Bhutanese hills, raising hopes and expectations for the one-fifth of the humanity living in the region.
This summit was a special event as it steered the regional body in a new direction. Like an observer said, it could be the rebirth of SAARC as a regional cooperation body.
The 16th SAARC Summit ended on 29 April with the adoption of a 'Joint Declaration' and a 'Statement on Climate Change' to address the adverse effects of climate change in the region and make the organisation resilient and relevant for all the peoples of the member countries.
The leaders of eight SAARC countries agreed to establish an inter-governmental expert group on climate change, which will meet at least twice a year, to develop and monitor regional policy implementations.
Leaders also decided to plant ten million trees in the SAARC countries in five years, as part of a regional afforestation and reforestation campaign.
Expressing concerns about the affect of climate change on 1.6 billion people of South Asia, the leaders also expressed their determination to promote the use of green and low-carbon technologies.
Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley, in his closing remarks, said that the 'Thimphu Statement on Climate Change' will provide a strong impetus to collaborative efforts in addressing issues of climate change at the national, regional and international levels. "Our deliberations of the past two days have been most instructive and productive," he said. "We were able to have in-depth discussions on one of the most challenging issues of our times."
SAARC Secretary General was directed to commission a study aimed at accreditation of SAARC with the Kyoto Protocol's adaptation fund as a regional entity for undertaking adaptation projects in South Asia.
Member states agreed, according to the statement, to review the implementation of the Dhaka Declaration and SAARC action plan on climate change, to ensure their timely implementation.
Maldives' proposal to host the 17th SAARC summit was approved by the summit meeting. President Mohamad Nahseed, as the leader to host the 2011 summit, said that "Bhutan has set the bar very high for the Maldives".
Leaders agreed to commission a SAARC inter-governmental marine initiative to strengthen the understanding of shared oceans and water bodies in the region. They also stressed the importance of conservation of bio-diversity and natural resources and monitoring mountain ecology in the region.
The leaders noted in the joint declaration that the government of Maldives would nominate a woman as the 10th Secretary General of SAARC, as an initiative to promote women's empowerment and gender equality in the region.
Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley at the concluding session said that one of the most significant achievements of this summit was the decision to develop a "vision statement" by a "south Asian forum". "It is a matter of satisfaction that the forum will consist of eminent personalities from diverse backgrounds from our region and beyond. The forum will provide a platform to debate, discuss and exchange ideas on South Asia and its future," Lyonchhoen said.
Another milestone achieved by the summit is operationalisation of the South Asian University in New Delhi, Lyonchhoen said. "The university, when it opens in August, is destined to become the centre of excellence for higher learning in South Asia and it is here that we also expect the establishment of a low carbon research institute," he said.
The biggest single factor that has impeded the development of SAARC is the strained relations between India and Pakistan. The future advance of SAARC will depend on the future development of cordial relations between these two countries.
The writer works for Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation. He can be reached at e-mail: mmssiicc@aol.co.uk
ON 28 April, the 16th SAARC Summit met in picturesque Thimphu, capital of the Kingdom of Bhutan. The Summit marked the 25th anniversary of its founding. SAARC has come a long way since its inception. Though it may not be able to match the record of the EU in terms of economic and fiscal integration the results achieved are remarkable.
This is especially so in view of the strained relations between its two big members -- India and Pakistan. Actually the unresolved disputes between them have been the biggest deterrent to its rapid progress. However, that the South Asian nations have been able to achieve significant economic integration despite that divide is a sign of the maturity of its leaders, including those of India and Pakistan. By now SAARC has the institutional mechanisms in place to further strengthen its position. The agreement on cooperation in fighting terrorism is a case in point.
Numerous criticisms of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation notwithstanding, it has always been a major event for the region when the SAARC summit is held. Amidst the colourful decorations and green surrounding of Thimphu, the 16th SAARC Summit opened in grandeur. Stories of achievements made by member nations and new commitments leaders made at the summit reverberated from the Bhutanese hills, raising hopes and expectations for the one-fifth of the humanity living in the region.
This summit was a special event as it steered the regional body in a new direction. Like an observer said, it could be the rebirth of SAARC as a regional cooperation body.
The 16th SAARC Summit ended on 29 April with the adoption of a 'Joint Declaration' and a 'Statement on Climate Change' to address the adverse effects of climate change in the region and make the organisation resilient and relevant for all the peoples of the member countries.
The leaders of eight SAARC countries agreed to establish an inter-governmental expert group on climate change, which will meet at least twice a year, to develop and monitor regional policy implementations.
Leaders also decided to plant ten million trees in the SAARC countries in five years, as part of a regional afforestation and reforestation campaign.
Expressing concerns about the affect of climate change on 1.6 billion people of South Asia, the leaders also expressed their determination to promote the use of green and low-carbon technologies.
Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley, in his closing remarks, said that the 'Thimphu Statement on Climate Change' will provide a strong impetus to collaborative efforts in addressing issues of climate change at the national, regional and international levels. "Our deliberations of the past two days have been most instructive and productive," he said. "We were able to have in-depth discussions on one of the most challenging issues of our times."
SAARC Secretary General was directed to commission a study aimed at accreditation of SAARC with the Kyoto Protocol's adaptation fund as a regional entity for undertaking adaptation projects in South Asia.
Member states agreed, according to the statement, to review the implementation of the Dhaka Declaration and SAARC action plan on climate change, to ensure their timely implementation.
Maldives' proposal to host the 17th SAARC summit was approved by the summit meeting. President Mohamad Nahseed, as the leader to host the 2011 summit, said that "Bhutan has set the bar very high for the Maldives".
Leaders agreed to commission a SAARC inter-governmental marine initiative to strengthen the understanding of shared oceans and water bodies in the region. They also stressed the importance of conservation of bio-diversity and natural resources and monitoring mountain ecology in the region.
The leaders noted in the joint declaration that the government of Maldives would nominate a woman as the 10th Secretary General of SAARC, as an initiative to promote women's empowerment and gender equality in the region.
Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley at the concluding session said that one of the most significant achievements of this summit was the decision to develop a "vision statement" by a "south Asian forum". "It is a matter of satisfaction that the forum will consist of eminent personalities from diverse backgrounds from our region and beyond. The forum will provide a platform to debate, discuss and exchange ideas on South Asia and its future," Lyonchhoen said.
Another milestone achieved by the summit is operationalisation of the South Asian University in New Delhi, Lyonchhoen said. "The university, when it opens in August, is destined to become the centre of excellence for higher learning in South Asia and it is here that we also expect the establishment of a low carbon research institute," he said.
The biggest single factor that has impeded the development of SAARC is the strained relations between India and Pakistan. The future advance of SAARC will depend on the future development of cordial relations between these two countries.
The writer works for Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation. He can be reached at e-mail: mmssiicc@aol.co.uk