H. E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) called on H. E. Ms. Sujatha Singh, Foreign Secretary of India at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi today.

During the meeting, the Secretary-General appraised the Foreign Secretary about the current status of regional cooperation under SAARC. He also briefed the Foreign Secretary about the issues to be discussed during the Inter Summit Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers scheduled for 17-20 February 2014 in the Maldives.   

Ms. Sripriya Ranganathan, Joint Secretary, SAARC Division at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi and Mrs. L. Savithri, Director, SAARC Secretariat, were also present at the meeting.

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Ambassador of Afghanistan H. E. Mr. Shaida Muhamad Abdali paid a courtesy call on H. E. Mr. Arjun B. Thapa, Secretary-General of SAARC on 18 December 2014 at the SAARC Secretariat.

H. E. Mr. Abdali congratulated H. E. the Secretary General of SAARC on the successful conclusion of the Eighteenth SAARC Summit and its preceding meetings, particularly on signing the SAARC Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity). He wished for successful implementation of the decisions taken during the Summit, expressed the need to empower the Secretariat, and emphasized on learning from successful stories and experiences of other similar organizations such as EU. 

H. E. Mr. Abdali emphasized on the importance of security and collective efforts to resolve conflicts in the region. He also stressed on the communalities among the Member States that augured well for ensuring peace and harmony in the region. He pointed out the significance of the geographic location of Afghanistan for connecting South Asia.

H. E. Mr. Abdali expressed the eagerness of Afghanistan in hosting a SAARC Regional Centre to strengthen its sense of ownership over SAARC. He also pointed out that TAPI, a mega-project which was signed among Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India in 2012, aimed at boosting peace and stability through regional energy cooperation, can be a threshold in transforming the South Asian region. With three SAARC Member Countries, namely Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, already on board, and with the rest of South Asian countries showing interest to join the project, it can provide the ground for a collective venture. 

H.E. the Secretary General, while thanking the Ambassador Abdali for his visit, expressed deep appreciation for Afghan Government’s contribution in advancing the agenda of SAARC.  He also stressed on the need for improving intra-regional connectivity by signing Motor Vehicles and Railways Agreements.

Mr. Mohammad Ibrahim Ghafoori, Director, SAARC Secretariat and and Mr. Sayed Mujtaba Ahmadi, Economic Counselor, Embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi were also present at the meeting

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The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) celebrated its Twenty-ninth Charter Day today. The Charter establishing the Association was signed on 8 December 1985 by the SAARC Heads of State or Government during their first-ever Summit meeting in Dhaka, the initiative for which was spearheaded by late President Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh.

To mark the Day, the Heads of State or Government of SAARC Member States issued special messages, vouching their unwavering support and commitment to the SAARC process. SAARC is the regional body that aims to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life through regional cooperation in mutually agreed areas. SAARC today caters to almost every sphere of human activity.

All the Member States, Regional Centres and Specialized Bodies of SAARC commemorated the Charter Day by organizing dedicatory events. At the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu, H. E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General of SAARC, hosted a Reception to mark the Day. The occasion brought together high-ranking officials, resident Ambassadors, civil society representatives, business community and a large number of media personnel, among others The Reception also had the presence of Heads of SAARC Divisions in the Ministries of Foreign/External Affairs of SAARC Member States, who are in Kathmandu to attend the Forty-fourth Session of the Programming Committee that opens at the SAARC Secretariat tomorrow.

The Secretary-General addressed the gathering present on the occasion. At the behest of the Secretary-General, the attending guests also observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to late President Nelson Mandela.

On the occasion, the Secretary-General conferred upon the SAARC Youth Award for the year 2011 to Mr. Mohamed Faseen Rafiu of the Maldives in recognition of his outstanding contribution to society under the theme of “Youth Leadership in the fight against social ills.” The Award, which carries a cash prize of US $ 3000, a gold medal and a citation, was instituted in 1994 in order to recognize the extra-ordinary young talents in the region. So far, 11 such awards have been given away to the youth from within the region. Rafiu is the first recipient of the Award from the Maldives.

Concluding his Address at the Reception, the Secretary-General said, “As we mark the Twenty-ninth SAARC Charter Day today, I would like to extend warm felicitations to the people and Governments of our Member States. Let us today recommit ourselves to strengthen SAARC to meet the growing expectations of our peoples in the region.”

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The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) commemorated its Thirtieth Charter Day today, 8 December 2014.

 

The Heads of State or Government and Ministers of Foreign/External Affairs of SAARC Member States issued special messages in commemoration of the Charter Day. H. E. the Secretary-General of SAARC also issued a dedicatory message on the occasion.

 

SAARC Regional Centres, Specialized Bodies of SAARC, SAARC Apex and Recognized Bodies and SAARC Secretariat observed the Thirtieth SAARC Charter Day by organizing various commemorative events.

 

As per tradition, H. E. Mr. Arjun B. Thapa, Secretary-General of SAARC, hosted a Reception at the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu this evening to mark the Thirtieth SAARC Charter Day. Graced by the Rt. Hon. Parmananda Jha, Vice President of Nepal as Chief Guest, the event was attended by a large number of dignitaries and high-ranking officials from the Government of Nepal, representatives of the diplomatic corps in Kathmandu, and people representing the civil society, business community and the media.

 

Addressing the gathering present on the occasion, H. E. Mr. Thapa said, “Tonight’s event takes place barely ten days after the Eighteenth SAARC Summit. This event this evening is a fitting occasion for all of us to rejoice the successful conclusion of the Eighteenth Summit.” In his brief address, H. E. Mr. Thapa highlighted the major issues emanating from the Eighteenth Summit.

 

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) came into being on 8 December 1985 with the adoption of its Charter by the Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan joined SAARC in April 2007 as the eighth member.

 

A forum of eight countries in South Asia that are bound by ties of history and culture, SAARC is a tangible manifestation of the determination of its Member States to promote peace, stability, amity and progress in the region through strict adherence to the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, national independence, non-use of force and non-interference in the internal affairs of other States and peaceful settlement of disputes. SAARC aims to promote peace, freedom, social justice and economic prosperity by fostering mutual understanding, good neighborly relations and meaningful cooperation among its Member States. Its Secretariat is based in Kathmandu.

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