SAARC Secretariat, in collaboration with National Sports Council of Nepal, is organizing a Marathon (a total distance of 8 km only) in Kathmandu to commemorate the 27th SAARC Charter Day on 8th December 2011 in which all the members of diplomatic community based in Kathmandu have been invited to participate. SAARC Secretariat welcomes for public participation and women are especially encouraged to take part in the event.

The route of the Marathon will be SAARC Secretariat- Durbar Marg-Kamaladi-Nepal Academy- Ram Shah Path-Singha Durbar-Mandala, Thapathali-Tripureshwor-Sundhara-Kanti Path-Mahankal-Bir Hospital- Jamal- SAARC Secretariat, Thamel. Those who are interested to participate in the Marathon are requested to register at the SAARC Secretariat by 4.00 pm,   7th December 2011 and arrive at the SAARC Secretariat at 6.45 am sharp on the 8th December. Participants should be physically fit to run the distance of 8km. The registration can be done at email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Tel.4221694.

The Marathon is scheduled to begin at 7 am at the SAARC Secretariat and terminate at the SAARC Secretariat premises, Thamel, approximately at 9 am.  A special programme will be organized at the Secretariat at 9 .15 am on the same day to give away prizes to the winners of the Marathon in presence of the Secretary General and other distinguished guests. Refreshments will be served to all participants during the programme.

                                                                               

Event Programme

Day/Date:  Thursday/8 December 2011

Gathering of participants:    06:45 a.m.

Gathering point :  SAARC Secretariat, Tri Devi Marg, Kathmandu

Start Time:    7:00 a.m.

Expected Finishing Time: 9:00 a.m. at the SAARC Secretariat, Thamel, Kathmandu

Prize Distribution, followed by refreshment:     9:15 a.m.

Marathon Route    SAARC Secretariat- Durbar Marg-Kamaladi- Nepal Academy- Ram Shah Path- Singha Durbar- Mandala, Thapathali- Tripureshwor- Sundhara- Kanti Path- Mahankal- Bir Hospital- Jamal- SAARC Secretariat, Thamel. 

Total Distance    8 Kilometers (approximate)

Expected Participation    200 participants

Registration     Mr. Shabbir Ahmed, Ph: 4221694,
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

H. E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General of SAARC addressed the Inaugural Session of the First Summit of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue held in Kuwait on 15 October 2012. The three-day-Summit concluded on 17 October 2012.

H. E. the Secretary-General was invited to the Summit by H. E. Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs of the State of Kuwait.

In his address at the Inaugural Session of the Summit, the Secretary-General stated, “As one of the largest and the most populated regions of the world, Asia has always enjoyed a rich history and cultural diversity that contributed in advancing science and human knowledge throughout time. Endowed with immense human and natural resources, I believe this is the era of coming closer, and ‘collective development’ for the Asian countries.”

Mr. Ahmar Ismail, Director, SAARC Secretariat, accompanied the Secretary-General to the Summit in Kuwait.

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H. E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General of SAARC, paid a courtesy call on H. E. Mr. Mohamed Waheed Deen, Vice President of the Republic of Maldives at the President’s Office in Malé on 27 September 2012. The Secretary-General was visiting Malé in connection with the Fifth Meeting of SAARC Ministers of Interior or Home hosted by Maldives.

During the meeting with the Vice President, the Secretary-General apprised the dignitary on the ongoing activities of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), with a particular focus on measures aimed at implementing the decisions of the Seventeenth SAARC Summit held in Addu City of Maldives in November 2011. The Summit bore the theme, Building Bridges.

At the meeting, the Secretary-General also briefed the Vice President on the progress achieved in the preparation of a comprehensive Study aimed at strengthening SAARC mechanisms, including the SAARC Secretariat, Regional Centres and Specialized Bodies. For the first time in the history of the Association, the Member States have entrusted the Secretariat with the responsibility of undertaking such an important Study, which will be placed before the inter-Summit Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers to be hosted by Maldives in February/March 2013.

H. E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General of SAARC, paid a courtesy call on H. E. Mr. Mohamed Waheed Deen, Vice President of the Republic of Maldives at the President’s Office in Malé on 27 September 2012. The Secretary-General was visiting Malé in connection with the Fifth Meeting of SAARC Ministers of Interior or Home hosted by Maldives.

During the meeting with the Vice President, the Secretary-General apprised the dignitary on the ongoing activities of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), with a particular focus on measures aimed at implementing the decisions of the Seventeenth SAARC Summit held in Addu City of Maldives in November 2011. The Summit bore the theme, Building Bridges.

At the meeting, the Secretary-General also briefed the Vice President on the progress achieved in the preparation of a comprehensive Study aimed at strengthening SAARC mechanisms, including the SAARC Secretariat, Regional Centres and Specialized Bodies. For the first time in the history of the Association, the Member States have entrusted the Secretariat with the responsibility of undertaking such an important Study, which will be placed before the inter-Summit Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers to be hosted by Maldives in February/March 2013.

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.