H. E. Ms. Fatema Z. Sumar, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs of the U. S. Department of State called on H. E. Mr. Arjun B. Thapa, Secretary-General of SAARC at the SAARC Secretariat today.

The visiting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State conveyed to H. E. Mr. Thapa the best wishes of H. E. Mr. John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State for a successful tenure as the Secretary-General of SAARC.

During the meeting, H. E. the Secretary-General apprised the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the current status of regional cooperation under the auspices of SAARC, with particular reference to intra-regional trade and connectivity.

The visiting dignitary expressed the keen interest of the United States of America to engage actively with SAARC as an observer state. The United States became an observer to SAARC at the Fourteenth SAARC Summit held in New Delhi in April 2007.

Matters pertaining to the Eighteenth SAARC Summit to be hosted by Nepal in November 2014 also figured during the discussions.

H. E. Ms. Sumar was accompanied by H. E. Mr. Peter W. Bodde, Ambassador of the United States of America to Nepal.

Mr. Dhan Bahadur Oli, Director, was present at the meeting.

H. E. Mr. Arjun B. Thapa, Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) paid an introductory visit to Pakistan from 2 to 3 June 2014.

During the visit, H. E. the Secretary-General called on H. E. Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; H. E. Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs; and H. E. Mr. Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Foreign Secretary of Pakistan.

During H. E. the Secretary-General’s call on H. E. Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister, the Prime Minister highlighted that Pakistan values SAARC as a dynamic regional platform for building economic synergies, deepening regional integration and bringing the people of South Asia together. H. E. the Secretary-General expressed encouragement over the Prime Minister’s recent visit to India and hoped that this visit would give further impetus to the SAARC process.

During H. E. the Secretary-General’s call on H. E. Mr. Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, the Advisor reiterated that Pakistan is fully committed to the principles and objectives of the SAARC Charter to promote the welfare of the people of this region through effective regional integration. He further stated that Pakistan is a vibrant member of SAARC and hoped that despite several impediments, SAARC will become a catalyst for regional development.

H. E. the Foreign Secretary hosted a luncheon in honour of H. E. the Secretary-General which was also attended by Envoys from the SAARC Member States based in Islamabad, Federal Secretaries, Directors from three SAARC Regional Centres and high officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the calls on the high dignitaries, H. E. the Secretary-General apprised them of the current status of regional cooperation under the auspices of SAARC with particular reference to intra-regional connectivity and economic integration. H. E. the Secretary General briefed them about the follow-up on the decisions taken during the recently concluded Inter-summit Session (the Maldives, 20 February 2014), inter-alia, including preparation of the Terms of Reference to conduct a Study to review and analyze existing engagements and experiences with Observers and to make a proposal on the establishment of dialogue partnership and preparation of the performance matrix/fact sheet on the functioning of each Regional Centre.

H. E. the Secretary-General of SAARC was accompanied by his spouse, Mrs. Pabitra Thapa and Mr. Ahmar Ismail, Director, SAARC Secretariat, during the visit.

H. E. Mr. Arjun B. Thapa, Secretary-General of SAARC, returned to Kathmandu today from Bhutan. He was visiting Bhutan on an introductory visit from 18 to 19 May 2014. He was accompanied by his spouse, Mrs. Pabitra Thapa.

During the visit, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan received H. E. Mr. Thapa in audience yesterday. Mrs. Thapa was also present on the occasion.

H. E. the Foreign Minister of Bhutan hosted a dinner in Thimphu in honour of H. E. the Secretary-General of SAARC and his spouse on 19 May.

Matters pertaining to the strengthening of SAARC’s mechanisms figured prominently during these meetings in Thimphu. In addition to the SAARC Secretariat, SAARC has a host of inter-governmental mechanisms, eleven Regional Centres and four specialized bodies. A Comprehensive Study prepared recently by the Secretariat spells out measures to make SAARC a robust and dynamic regional entity. Several recommendations made in the Study have already been approved by the Inter-Summit Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers held in February 2014 in the Maldives, while the Secretariat is preparing some more studies in support of other recommendations in the Comprehensive Study.

Another subject that came under discussion in Thimphu related to the Eighteenth SAARC Summit to be hosted by Nepal in November 2014. During the February Session of the Council of Ministers, Nepal offered to host the Summit in November 2014. The Seventeenth SAARC Summit was held in the Maldives in November 2011.

H. E. Mr. Thapa assumed charge as Secretary-General of SAARC from 1 March 2014. As part of his familiarization visits to Member States, he has visited India, Bangladesh and Bhutan, besides paying introductory calls on the Nepalese leadership in early March. He is scheduled to visit Pakistan from 1 to 3 June 2014. Dates for his visits to Afghanistan, Maldives and Sri Lanka are being worked out in consultation with the concerned Foreign Ministries.

Mr. Singye Dorjee, Director, accompanied H. E. the Secretary-General and his spouse to Bhutan on the introductory visit.