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INTRODUCTION
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an
organisation of South Asian nations, which was established on 8
December 1985 when the government of Bangladesh , Bhutan, India,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka formally adopted its charter
providing for the promotion of economic and social progress, cultural
development within the South Asia region and also for friendship and
cooperation with other developing countries. It is dedicated to economic,
technological, social, and cultural development emphasising collective
self-reliance. Its seven founding members are Sri Lanka, Bhutan, India,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Afghanistan joined the
organization in 2007. Meetings of heads of state are usually scheduled
annually; meetings of foreign secretaries, twice annually. It is
headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Area of operation of SAARC nations are Agriculture and Rural
Development Health and Population Activities Women, Youth and Children
Transportation Environment and Forestry Science and Technology and
Meteorology Human Resources development .
WHAT IS SAARC?
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an
organization of South Asian nations, founded in 1985 and dedicated to
economic, technological, social, and cultural development emphasizing
collective self-reliance. Its seven founding members are Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan
joined the organization in 2007. Meetings of heads of state are usually
scheduled annually; meetings of foreign secretaries, twice annually.
Headquarters are in Kathmandu, Nepal.
History
The first concrete proposal for establishing a framework for regional
cooperation in South Asia was made by the late president of Bangladesh,
Ziaur Rahman, on May 2, 1980. Prior to this, the idea of regional
cooperation in South Asia was discussed in at least three conferences: the
Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi in April 1947, the Baguio
Conference in the Philippines in May 1950, and the Colombo Powers
Conference in April 1954. In the late 1970s, SAARC nations agreed upon
the creation of a trade bloc consisting of South Asian countries. The idea
of regional cooperation in South Asia was again mooted in May 1980.
The foreign secretaries of the seven countries met for the first time in
Colombo in April 1981. The Committee of the Whole, which met in
PRINCIPLES
CURRENT MEMBERS
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
OBSERVERS
Australia
China
European Union
Japan
Iran
Mauritius
Myanmar
South Korea
United States
OTHERS
South Africa has participated in meetings.
REGIONAL CENTRES
The SAARC Secretariat has established various regional centres in member
states. Each regional centre is managed by a governing board. The GB has
representatives of each of the member state and SAARC Secretariat.
The SAARC Secretariat is supported by following Regional Centres
established in Member States to promote regional cooperation. These Centres are
managed by Governing Boards comprising representatives from all the Member
States, SAARC Secretary-General and the Ministry of Foreign/External Affairs of
the Host Government. The Director of the Centre acts as Member Secretary to the
Governing Board which reports to the Programming Committee.
REGIONAL CENTRES
SAARC Agricultural Centre (SAC), Dhaka
SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC), Dhaka
SAARC Tuberculosis Centre (STC), Kathmandu
SAARC Documentation Centre (SDC), New Delhi
SAARC Human Resources Development Centre (SHRDC), Islamabad
SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre (SCZMC), Maldives
SAARC Information Centre (SIC), Nepal
SAARC Energy Centre (SEC), Pakistan
SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC), India
SAARC Forestry Centre (SFC), Bhutan
SAARC Cultural Centre (SCC), Sri Lanka
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(AMDISA)
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation of Architects (SAARCH)
Federation of State Insurance Organizations of SAARC Countries (FSIO)
SAARC Diploma Engineers Forum (SDEF)
Radiological Society of SAARC Countries (RSSC)
SAARC Teachers Federation (STF)
SAARC Surgical Care Society (SSCS)
South Asian Regional Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and
Leprologists (SARAD)
South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA)
SAARC Womens Association in Sri Lanka (SWA)
Hindukush Himalayan Grassroots Womens Natural Resources Management
(HIMAWANTI)
Federation of Association of Pediatric Surgeons of SAARC Countries
(FAPSS)
South Asian Federation of Exchanges (SAFE)
SAARC Federation of Oncologists (SFO)
South Asia Association of National Scout Organization (SAANSO)
South Asian Network of Economic Research Institute (SANEI)
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ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
The SAARC comprises five leayers of organizational structure:
1. Council: At the top, there is the Council represented by the heads of the
government of the member countries. The council the apex policy making body. It
meets once in 2 years time.
2. Council of Minister: It is to assist the council. It is represented by the foreign
minister of the member countries. Its functions include:
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Formulation of policies
Review of functioning
Deciding new areas of cooperation
Chalk our additional mechanism
Decide about general issues of common of interest of the SAARC member.
SECRETARIAT
The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987 and
was inaugurated by Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal.
It is headed by a Secretary General appointed by the Council of Ministers from
Member Countries in alphabetical order for a three-year term. He is assisted by the
Professional and the General Services Staff, and also an appropriate number of
functional units called Divisions assigned to Directors on deputation from Member
States. The Secretariat coordinates and monitors implementation of activities,
prepares for and services meetings, and serves as a channel of communication
between the Association and its Member States as well as other regional
organizations.
The Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the Secretariat which
was signed by Foreign Ministers of member countries on 17 November 1986 at
Bangalore, India contains various clauses concerning the role, structure and
administration of the SAARC Secretariat as well as the powers of the SecretaryGeneral.
In several recent meetings the heads of state or government of member states of
SAARC have taken some important decisions and bold initiatives to strengthen the
organisation and to widen and deepen regional co-operation.
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The SAARC Secretariat and Member States observe 8 December as the SAARC
Charter Day1.
Secretary General, Directors and Staff of the SAARC Secretariat at the function to
celebrate the 25th SAARC Charter Day, 2009 in Kathmandu
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ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARIAT
Servicing the
meetings
Serving as a
of
SAARC
Co-ordinating,
communication
monitaring &link between
implementing
SAARC & other
SAARC activities
international
forums
SECRETARIES-GENERAL OF SAARC
Abul Ahsan
Kishore Kant Bhargava
Ibrahim Hussain Zaki
Yadav Kant Silwal
Naeem U. Hasan
Nihal Rodrigo
Q.A.M.A. Rahim
Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji
Sheel Kant Sharma
Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed
Ahmed Saleem
T T
ho
e n
c
om
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C
h
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a
me
i m
il
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THE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES
f
i
r
t
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
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tevwsuprIifmola
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Mobilizing Co-operation
within
and outside
region and
Functions
Monitoring
Determining
coordinating
of Standing
inter-sectoral
programmes
priorities
Committee
Formulating
the modalities of
financing
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
FunctionsCarrying
of out the
Activities assigned
Programming
by the Standing
Analyzing the
reports
Scrutinising Committee
committee
Finalizing the annual
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TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
REPRESENTATIVE: It comprises the representatives of all countries.
F
u
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n
n rr
c
m
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t
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o
a
n
n tt
s
o
n
g
i
f
Agriculture
Communications
Rural 2000
Technical2004
Development
Environment
2000
Committees
Science
&
Health
&
2000
Technology
Tourism
&
Population
of
SAARC
1983 Transportactivities
2005
1984
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SOCIAL CHARTER
Re-affirming that the principal goal of SAARC is to promote the welfare of
the peoples of South Asia, to improve their quality of life, to accelerate economic
growth, social progress and cultural development and to provide all individuals the
opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potential.
Recognising that the countries of South Asia have been linked by age-old
cultural, social and historical traditions and that these have enriched the interaction
of ideas, values, cultures and philosophies among the people and the States and
that these commonalities constitute solid foundations for regional cooperation for
addressing more effectively the economic and social needs of people.
Recalling that all Member States attach high importance to the imperative of
social development and economic growth and that their national legislative,
executive and administrative frameworks provide, in varying degrees, for the
progressive realization of social and economic goals, with specific provisions,
where appropriate, for the principles of equity, affirmative action and public
interest.
Observing that regional cooperation in the social sector has received the
focused attention of the Member States and that specific areas such as health,
nutrition, food security, safe drinking water and sanitation, population activities,
and child development and rights along with gender equality, participation of
women in development, welfare of the elderly people, youth mobilization and
human resources development continue to remain on the agenda of regional
cooperation.
Noting that high level meetings convened since the inception of SAARC on
the subjects of children, women, human resettlements, sustainable developments,
agriculture and food, poverty alleviation etc. have contributed immensely to the
enrichment of the social agenda in the region and that several directives of the
Heads of State or Government of SAARC Countries at their Summit meetings
have imparted dynamism and urgency to adopting regional programmes to fully
and effectively realize social goals.
Reiterating that the SAARC Charter and the SAARC Conventions,
respectively on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Preventing and
Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution, Regional
Arrangements for the Promotion of Child Welfare in South Asia and the SAARC
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SENSETIVE LIST
A sensitive list is a list with every country which does not include tariff
concession. Bangladesh has 1,233 products on the sensitive list for the Least
Developing countries and 1,241 for the non-Least developing countries under the
SAFTA. Bangladesh will reduce the sensitive list by 246 items for the least
developed countries (LDCs) and 248 for the non-LDCs.[5] India has 25 items on the
sensitive list for the LDCs and 695 for the non-LDCs. Dr Manmohan Singh, the
Indian Prime Minister, announced in September in Dhaka that he will reduce the
Sensitive List by 46. Bhutan has 150 items for both the LDCs and non-LDCs and
has no plan of shortening its list. Nepal has 1,257 for the LDCs and 1,295 for the
non-LDCs. Nepal has reduced its list by 259 from its previous list of 1295. Now
it's 1036, said joint secretary at Ministry of Commerce and Supplies.
[6]
The Maldives has 681 for all seven SAFTA nations. Pakistan had 1,169 in its
sensitive list but has cut its sensitive list by 20% to 936 Sri Lanka has 1,042
and Afghanistan has 1,072 items on the negative list.
INSTRUMENTS
Following are the instrument involved in SAFTA:
Rules of Origin
Institutional Arrangements
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Safeguard Measures
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In the way of achieving these objectives, poverty has been major hindrance. India
offered a contribution of US $ 100 million at the twelfth Summit held at Islamabad
in 2004.
Indias disputes and military rivalry with Pakistan is believed to be the cause of
ineffectiveness of SAARC in integrating South Asian countries. If Indo-Pak
relations improve, many SAARC nations could benefit from it by improved trade
relations and creation of better export markets. SAARC has failed to work towards
regional co-operation mainly because India has been reluctant to solve major
regional disputes which have given rise to economic and political problems in
South Asia.
Since India has an unbeatable economic, military strength and international
influence compared to all 6 members of SAARC, the disparity of power brings in
the reluctance from smaller states to work with India. They have fear of dominance
from India if they co-operate in order to facilitate faster economic growth.
India has also heightened the fears of fears of South Asian nations by acting in a
dominating and arrogant way. Its dispute with neighboring Bangladesh due to
redirection of water flows impacting Bangladeshs agricultural production has kept
Bangladesh afraid of its powers.
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Nepal is also fearful that India may take over its world trade because of its
geographical suitability. As a result of all these fears and disagreements, SAARC
has failed to promote regional co-operation and mutual trust amongst the South
Asian countries.
The tension between India and Sri Lanka that prevailed for 4 years over Indian
Military trying to curb the revolution by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil E Elam and
Indo-Pak Dispute over the Kashmir valley and the resulting Trade violations are
enough to prove that South Asian countries fail to achieve SAARC objectives by
any means.
India must come to the front and initiate measures to encourage nations to prove
their mettle and make the SAARC summit a meaningful affair. Appropriate
measures should be taken with the intent of maintaining peace and resolving
disputes amongst the SAARC member countries. Special Economic Zones and
Export Promotion Zones should be created in all member countries to make trading
easier and smooth the relations between the South Asian nations.
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ACHIEVEMENT OF SAARC
South Asian Free Trade Area
Over the years, the SAARC members have expressed their unwillingness on
signing a free trade agreement. Though India has several trade pacts with
Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, similar trade agreements with Pakistan
and Bangladesh have been stalled due to political and economic concerns on both
sides. In 1993, SAARC countries signed an agreement to gradually lower tariffs
within the region, in Dhaka. Eleven years later, at the 12th SAARC Summit at
Islamabad, SAARC countries devised the South Asia Free Trade Agreement which
created a framework for the establishment of a free trade area covering 1.6 billion
people. This agreement went into force on January 1, 2008. Under this agreement,
SAARC members will bring their duties down to 20 percent by 2009.
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ENVIRONMENT
1. A SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC) was established in New Delhi
in October 2006. The SDMC provides policy advice and facilitates capacity
building including strategic learning, research, training, system development,
expertise promotion and exchange of information for effective disaster risk
reduction and management.
2. Regional Centers such as the SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre in the
Maldives, the SAARC Forestry Centre in Bhutan, the SAARC Disaster
Management Centre in India and the SAARC Meteorological Research Centre in
Bangladesh constitute a framework of SAARC Institutions which address diverse
aspects of environment, climate change and natural disasters.
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HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
At the Thirteenth SAARC Summit held in November 2005 in Dhaka, India
proposed to create a Centre of Excellence, in the form of a South Asian University,
which can provide world class facilities and professional faculty to students and
researchers drawn from every country of the region.
POVERTYALLEVIATION
Recognizing the imperative to address poverty related issues and to suggest
strategies and measures to alleviate poverty in the region, the SAARC Leaders at
their Sixth Summit (Colombo, 1991) established an Independent South Asian
Commission on Poverty Alleviation (ISACPA).
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TOURISM
The Tourism Ministers who met at Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh) in May 2006,
adopted the Cox's Bazar SAARC Action Plan on Tourism.
Several factors such as political, economic, security and potentiality
of mutual economic benefit through regionalism seem to have influenced President
Ziaur Rahmans thinking about establishing a regional organization in South Asia.
15 SAARCs existence, however, has enabled South Asian political leaders to meet
regularly and carry on informal discussions to address their mutual problems.
This is no mean achievement given South Asias past history and low
level of interaction among South Asian countries since their independence.
Informal talks among the leaders at regularly held SAARC meetings have led to
inter-elite reconciliation on many sensitive issues, producing some noteworthy
results in South Asia. The informal talks between the Indian and Pakistani Prime
Ministers at the second SAARC Summit meeting at Bangalore in November 1986
led to the diffusion of tension between the two countries on the issue of Indias
military exercise, Operation Brasstacks, on the Indo-Pakistan border, and the IndiaSri Lanka talks at the 1987 SAARC foreign ministers meeting led to their accord
on the Tamil problem. As a result of an informal meeting and discussion between
Prime Minister of India and Pakistan, Narasimha Rao and Nawaz Sharif, at Davos
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(Switzerland), in 1992, the Pakistani government took action to prevent the move
of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) to cross the ceasefire line in
Kashmir later that year. The Davos meeting was possible because of an earlier
informal agreement between the two leaders at the sixth SAARC Summit meeting
at Colombo in December 1991. Given this utility of SAARC, can the organization
grow or expand its role in the coming decades? The Heads of State or Government
during the Ninth SAARC
FUTURE PROSPECTS
South Asia needs increased co operations among its countries to face challenges
posed by hikes in food prices energy prices, recurrent disasters and climate change.
Due to gerographic, economic, cultural and other strategic reasons. South asia has
distinct advantages to cooperate in many areas including cross border
infrastructure and services, health, trade finance, and regional public goods. Due to
its strategic geographic location. southasia can play an important role in the wider
Asian integration, Though there are significant achievement in cooperation among
the south asian countries the progress in regional cooperation and integration has
been slow. The SAARCH has tremendous prospects to expedite the integration
process.
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Regional co operation can help achieve economic and social development. Crossborder development of basic infrastructure such as highways, railways, shipping
and air connectivity, inland waterways, power grids, san telecommucation links
can reduce physical barriers to the movement of goods and people across national
boundaries, it can in turn help to expand regional trade and tourism, increase
foreign echange earning capacity, and create labour intensive activites generating
emplyement oppportunites. Reginoal co operation can increase the regional
cooperation can play a very important role in assisting south asian coutires speed
up economic growth.
SAARC has a vital role
intergrated and prosperous asian region the SAARC can help to be a stabilizing
element to bilateral relationship.
The history of SAARC shows that it had been high on promise and low on
delivery, to change the organization into a more vibrant and result oriented body,
they need to overcome their differences and disputes and create a climate of mutual
trust and confidence.
The recent steps such as social charter, SAFTA, and declarations on Terrorism are
in the positive direction and their goals appear achievable there political will to do
so appears forthcoming now this looks good for the future of the SAARC.
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FUTURE MEMEBERSHIP
The People's Republic of China has shown its interest in joining SAARC.
While Pakistan and Bangladesh support China's candidature, India is
against the prospect of Chinese membership. China's entry in to SAARC
will likely balance India's overbearing presence there. However, during the
2005 Dhaka summit, India agreed on granting observer status to the PRC
along with Japan. During the 14th summit, Nepal along with Pakistan and
Bangladesh, announced their support for the membership of China. China
seeks greater involvement in SAARC, however, finds it too early to apply
for full membership.
Indonesia intends to become an observer as well, and is supported
by Sri Lanka. Iran, a state with borders to two SAARC members, has
traditionally enjoyed strong cultural, economic and political relationships
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with Afghanistan and Pakistan and has expressed its desire to become a
member of the South Asian organization. On 22 February 2005, the Foreign
Minister of Iran, Kamal Kharrazi, indicated Iran's interest in joining
SAARC by saying that his country could provide the region with "EastWest connectivity".
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Previous Winners:
1997: Outstanding Social Service in Community Welfare - Mr. Md. Sukur Salek
(Bangladesh)
1998: New Inventions and Discoveries - Dr. Najmul Hasnain Shah (Pakistan)
2001: Creative Photography: South Asian Diversity - Mr. Mushfiqul Alam
(Bangladesh)
2002: Outstanding contribution to protect the Environment - Dr. Masil Khan
(Pakistan)
2003: Invention in the Field of Traditional Medicine - Mr. Hassan Sher (Pakistan)
2004: Outstanding contribution to raising awareness for TB and/or HIV/AIDS Mr. Ajij Prasad Poudyal (Nepal)
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2006: Promotion of Tourism in South Asia - Mr. Syed Zafar Abbas Naqvi
(Pakistan)
2008: Protecting the Environment in South Asia - Ms. Uswatta Liyanage Deepani
Jayantha (Sri Lanka)
2009: Outstanding contribution to humanitarian works in the aftermath of Natural
Disasters - Dr. Ravikant Singh (India)
Conclusion
Though the formation of SAARC is a landmark step taken by the leaders
of the region, the main rational behind its establishment is to develop a congenial
environment through summit plomacy where all nations may interact peacefully
with each other, cultivate sustainable peace and promote mutual economic well
being by harnessing available resources in the region through the peaceful process
of economic integration.
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WebLOGRAPHY&BIBLIOGRAPHY
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