H. E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General of SAARC, addressed the Inaugural Session of the Fifth Meeting of SAARC Home or Interior Ministers in Maldives today. The Meeting brought together the Ministers and high-level delegations from SAARC Member States to discuss issues pertaining to security in the region.

Addressing the Inaugural Session, the Secretary-General briefed the visiting Ministers on the important initiatives undertaken by SAARC in strengthening cooperation among Member States to address security issues facing the region. Referring to the directive of the Seventeenth SAARC Summit held in Addu City of Maldives in November 2011, he said, “Most recently, at the Seventeenth SAARC Summit held in Addu City, the SAARC Leaders declared to root out terrorism, taking into account its linkages with illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and small arms and to make coordinated and concerted efforts to combat terrorism. At the same Summit, the Leaders also called for an early conclusion of the proposed UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and completion of the ratification of the SAARC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. Given the important directives of the Seventeenth Summit, this Ministerial Meeting is, therefore, timely and important, as it is expected to agree on measures to realize the Summit directives.”

Inaugurated by H. E. Mr. Mohamed Waheed Deen, Vice President of the Republic of Maldives, the Fifth Meeting of SAARC Interior or Home Ministers was preceded by the Fifth Meeting of SAARC Home or Interior Secretaries on 25 September and by the Fifth Meeting of SAARC Immigration Authorities on 24 September 2012.

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The first meeting of the SAARC  Sectoral Technical Committee on Food and Agricultural Products was held in the SAARC Secretariat on 24th August 2011. This was followed by the Eighth Meeting of the SAARC Standards Coordination Board on 25th and 26th August 2011.

The main outcomes/highlights of the above two meetings are as follows;

1.    After detailed deliberations, draft proposed SAARC Standards on refined sugar, biscuits and instant noodles have been formulated with respect to the three products. The member states would hold consultations with their stakeholders on the drafts and send their comments to the SAARC Secretariat for circulation among all Member States so that these could be recommended to the higher bodies for consideration and adoption.

2.    With the ratification of the agreement on the establishment of South Asian Regional Standards Organization or SARSO by Afghanistan, all member states have now ratified the agreement. As per the provisions in the agreement, a notification for the establishment of SARSO was issued by the SAARC Secretariat on 25th August 2011. With this notification, the SAARC Standards Coordination Board stands dissolved. The first meeting of the SARSO Governing board is expected to take place in Dhaka, Bangladesh by December this year.

3.    Harmonization of standards will now be attempted in the areas of building materials and jute, textiles and leather in the next three months.   

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SAARC Secretariat hosted the Second Meeting of the Expert Group of the Regional Railways Agreement and the Meeting of Experts on Demonstration Run of a Container Train were held back to back on 26-27 August 2011 and 28 August 2011, respectively.

The Expert Group finalized the text of the Regional Agreement on Railways which will be circulated for views/comments of the SAARC Member States. The other meeting discussed operational details of conducting a first ever Demonstration Run of a Container Train involving Bangladesh, India and Nepal initially, hoping to cover other SAARC Members in the future.

SAARC Leaders at the last Summit in Thimphu, pronounced the current decade as the decade of intra-regional connectivity in SAARC. In view of the declaration, these meetings assume special significance.

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H.E. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, President of the Republic of India, in his first Address to the Nation on the eve of India’s Sixty-sixth Independence Day said that “SAARC was created 27 years ago to find solutions through dialogue, and by mutual cooperation create the rapid economic growth that is the only long-term answer to problems like migration and uneven development. SAARC must acquire vigour to fulfill its mandate”.

The President also mentioned that the SAARC should be a major instrument in the common war against terrorists. Great success is possible for international cooperation. All SAARC nations must cooperate to bring to justice those who believe in mayhem against innocents. There is no other way towards peace on the subcontinent.

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