The SAARC Council of Ministers met in an informal session in New York on 21 September 2017 on the sidelines of the Seventy-second  Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

In his capacity as the Chairperson of the SAARC Council of Ministers, H. E. Mr. Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal, presided over the deliberations of the session, attended by Hon. Foreign Ministers of SAARC Member States.

In his opening remarks, the Chairperson highlighted the important initiatives taken by Nepal, as the Chair of SAARC, in pursuing the directives of the Eighteenth SAARC Summit held in Kathmandu in November 2014.  

H. E. Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial, Secretary General of SAARC, also addressed the informal session of the Council. In his brief remarks, he apprised the Foreign  Ministers of the progress achieved in the implementation of the decisions of the Eighteenth SAARC Summit and the last Session of the Council of Ministers held in Pokhara in March 2016. 

The Ministers reiterated their full commitment to the SAARC process and stressed the need to promote progress and prosperity for the people's of South Asian Region through the platform of SAARC. In order to enhane economic relations, people-to-people contacts and tourism, the Ministers emphasised the need to improve connectivity in the region. They commended the work done by SAARC Secretariat and underlined that it should play even greater role in promoting the objectives of SAARC. Also the Ministers agreed to work on the  dates for the 19th SAARC Summit and tasked the Secretariat to coordinate.

Taking advantage of their presence in New York during the United Nations General Assembly, the Foreign Ministers of SAARC have been meeting informally since 1987 on the sidelines to exchange views on the SAARC process.

21st Sept 2017. 
New York.

SAARC FRIENDSHIP BADMINTON COMPETITION

In view of the importance of sports being a healthy activity and its role in bringing people together as well as enhancing friendly and harmonious relations among SAARC fraternity, the SAARC Secretariat is organizing a Friendly Badminton Competition among all officials and the family members, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, Missions of SAARC Member States in Kathmandu and SAARC Tuberculosis & HIV/AIDS Centre, on Saturday, 26 August 2017 at Armed Police Force Sports Complex (APF Headquarters), Halchowk, Ring Road, Kathmandu.

On the invitation of the Secretary General of SAARC, 28-teams will participate in Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles of the Friendly Badminton Competition.

The Heads of Diplomatic Missions of the Member States of SAARC in Kathmandu, and senior officials of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, have been invited to witness the Friendly Competition in case they are not participating in it. The friendly competition will be followed by a luncheon hosted by the SAARC Secretariat.

Kathmandu, 24 August 2017

Secretary General expresses condolences

            The Secretary General of SAARC has expressed his sorrow and grief at the loss of lives and properties in Bangladesh, India and Nepal due to recent massive floods. He has expressed sincere condolences to the Governments and people of these countries on the loss of precious lives and sympathized with those who have suffered injuries and damage to their property.   

            The Secretary General acknowledged the resilience of the people in the wake of the natural disaster and appreciated immediate rescue and relief efforts being carried out by the governments for their people. He has expressed the hope that water will recede soon and the life of the people in the affected areas will return to normalcy. 

            The Secretary General has also expressed heartfelt condolences to the people and Government of Pakistan over the loss of precious lives in a terrorist incident in Quetta, Pakistan, on 12 August 2017.

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Kathmandu, 14 August 2017

The Meeting of the Health Ministers was inaugurated by Honourable Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine of Sri Lanka.

The Secretary General of SAARC, H.E. Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial, addressed the Inauguration Ceremony and thanked the Government of Sri Lanka for hosting this important meeting and recalled that SAARC’s leaders have time and again underlined the imperative of improved health of the peoples of South Asia. He also highlighted the fact that, though South Asia has seen the improvement in health care facilities across the region, medical care and treatment is still not easily available, are expensive and at times not affordable by the people at large. Hence, the Secretary General urged that every attempt must be made to reach out to the poor with basic health facilities at affordable prices and this should be a priority for SAARC.

The Secretary General made a suggestion for consideration of the Health Ministers Meeting regarding establishment of a South Asian Medical University, which could enable South Asian students to study medicine within the region at affordable cost.

Honourable Dr. Senaratne, in his address at the Ceremony, pointed out that non-communicable diseases, malnutrition and tuberculosis are identified as major health issues facing the people of South Asia. In this context, Minister Senaratne shared the experience of Sri Lanka in curbing the increase in non-communicable diseases and highlighted the important role of universal access to education and the empowerment of women.

On the suggestion of the establishing a South Asian Medical University, Minister Senaratne welcomed the proposal by the Secretary General and announced that they would be happy to host the Medical University in Sri Lanka. The Meeting concurred with suggestion and offer by the Government of Sri Lanka.

The Health Ministers adopted a “Colombo Declaration – Calling for accelerated progress on key Regional Health Issues”, which made recommendations on important areas related to public health such as Vector-Borne Diseases, Non-Communicable Diseases, Nutrition, Sanitation, traditional systems of medicines and Human Resources for Health. The Declaration also agreed to collaborate at a regional level, to safeguard the health of migrants.

The Health Ministers Meeting took a number of other important decisions for enhancing cooperation among Member States of SAARC for improving health care facilities.

The SAARC Technical Committee on Health and Population Activities, will further discuss and follow-up on the decisions made by the Sixth Meeting of the Ministers of Health, in its next Meeting scheduled to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan in December 2017.

Kathmandu, 30 July 2017