A high-level meeting of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member states on SAARC activities is on in the Indian capital of New Delhi to consolidate support and commitment to the SAARC process.
The 29th session of the SAARC council of foreign ministers of SAARC member states, which began from December 7 to 8.
SAARC’s 22 Anniversary
December 8 also marks the 22 Anniversary of the signing of the Charter, which established SAARC. The charter was signed during the first ever summit meeting of the heads of state or government held in Dhaka on December 8, 1985.
In his message on the occasion, the prime minister, Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji said that the signing of the SAARC Charter embarked member states on a collective voyage of regional cooperation, imbued with the vision of creating in South Asia a new order based on mutual respect, equity and shared benefits.
The message stated that SAARC has greater role to play as the region underwent unprecedented political and economic transformation. “We need to pursue the SAARC development goals, which represent the regional will, for a comprehensive and strategic response to the problem of poverty and social development.�
While the council will review the progress on the implementation of decisions taken and issues considered at the 14th SAARC Summit and previous sessions of the council of ministers, it will also deliberate on the report of SAARC ministerial meetings held since the 14th SAARC summit.
The Indian government is also hosting a SAARC cultural festival on the sidelines of the council session to implement the decision of the 14th summit to enhance cultural connectivity in the region.
An 11-member Bhutanese cultural troupe from the Royal Academy of Performing Arts will participate in the SAARC folklore festival at Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts and two Bhutanese chefs in the food festival at Hotel Ashoka. The Textile Museum of Bhutan is participating in the ‘Textile of South Asia’ exhibition at Crafts Museum during the inauguration of the SAARC Museum of Textiles and Handicrafts.
Before the meeting of the council of ministers, the 34th session of the standing committee of foreign secretaries and the 31st session of the programming committee of senior officials were held between December 3 and 6.
The Information and Communication minister, Lyonpo Leki Dorji, led the Bhutanese delegation. The foreign secretary, Yeshey Dorji, accompanied him. Source: Kuenselonline
