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FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION IN THE SAARC REGION - SAARC INFORMATION MINISTERS ADOPT EIGHTEEN-POINT PLAN OF ACTION THE SAARC INFORMATION MINISTERS meeting in Dhaka on April 25-26 adopted the Dhaka Communiqué on a Plan of Action on Information and Media. The 18-point Plan of Action aimed to facilitate free flow of information, among others, includes: provisions for holding an annual conference of editors and working journalists from SAARC countries; creation of a web page for exchange of news amongst news agencies of SAARC countries; exploring the feasibility of setting up a SAARC Information Centre with Media Production, Research and Training Units, as well as a SAARC Media Development Fund. The Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the meeting. In her inaugural address, the Prime Minister stressed the need for fully realising the potential of better flow of information in order to promote regional cooperation in South Asia and pursue specific regional objectives in the vital areas of agriculture, health, education, industries, commerce, tourism and culture. She underscored the fact that greater cooperation among the representatives of the print and electronic media is a prerequisite for the promotion of peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia. The State Minister for Information of Bangladesh, Prof. Abu Sayeed, welcomed the delegates and stated that the media organisations of SAARC countries have an important role to play in achieving the cherished goals of friendship, cooperation and advancement of the people of the SAARC region. The Secretary-General of SAARC, Naeem U. Hasan also addressed the inaugural session of the meeting. He underscored the need for evolving a SAARC strategy and information agenda in order to fully utilise the potential of media and communications in South Asia. He also emphasised the need for effective steps to project the image of SAARC both in South Asia and the outside world. ACCELERATION OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN SOUTH ASIA - SAARC COMMERCE MINISTERS MEET IN ISLAMABAD The two-day Second Meeting of the SAARC Commerce Ministers concluded on April 30, 1998 in Islamabad by adopting a number of important proposals to accelerate economic cooperation in South Asia. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the meeting and the Commerce Minister of Pakistan, Mohammad Ishaq Dar presided over its deliberations. The Commerce Ministers of all the Member Countries participated in the meeting. The Secretary-General of SAARC Naeem U. Hasan was also present on the occasion. During the meeting, the Commerce Ministers of SAARC Member Countries exchanged ideas and shared information on the highlights of the recent trade policies of their countries and steps taken by them to reinforce the SAARC process of trade liberalisation within the framework of SAPTA. They also considered several concrete measures to accelerate greater economic cooperation in the region, enhance intra-SAARC trade flow, protection and promotion of investment within a regional framework, promotion of trade inducing investment, avoidance of double taxation, harmonisation and simplification of customs procedures, improvement of transport and communication system and establishment of an effective dispute settlement mechanism. It was decided during the meeting that the Member Countries would conclude the Third Round of Trade Negotiations under SAPTA on a priority basis before the Tenth SAARC Summit and necessary preparatory work would be undertaken for the Fourth Round of Trade Negotiations immediately after the conclusion of the Third Round of Trade Negotiations. The meeting also decided that the third meeting of the Inter-Governmental Expert Group (IGEG) on Transition to SAFTA would carry on the necessary preparatory work on specific issues relating to the creation of a free trade area in South Asia. To help the IGEG it has also been decided that a comprehensive Study would be carried out on the implications for Member Countries of the transition to SAFTA. During their deliberations, the Ministers decided to encourage greater coordination among Member Countries to adopt a uniform approach on issues of common concern in the context of specific WTO negotiations. It was also decided to establish a Coordinating Group of SAARC Permanent Representatives at the WTO to facilitate consultations on various issues of concern to the Member Countries including the new issues being pursued by the developed countries for inclusion in WTO with a view to adopting co-ordinated and convergent positions which are mutually supportive. Bangladesh announced its offer to host the Third Meeting of the SAARC Commerce Ministers in Dhaka in February 1999 to carry forward the important work of the SAARC Commerce Ministers. Similarly, the meeting also welcomed the offer of Pakistan to host the Third SAARC Trade Fair in 1999. It would be preceded by the Second SAARC Trade Fair to be held in Colombo during September this year. During the meeting, an interactive consultative session was organised by the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) which provided a welcome opportunity to the Ministers and representatives of SCCI to discuss various ways to further strengthen mutually reinforcing role of Governments of SAARC Countries and the private sector to promote greater economic cooperation in South Asia. GEP MEETS AT THE SAARC SECRETARIAT THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP OF EMINENT PERSONS (GEP) met at the SAARC Secretariat from April 2-5, 1998 for their third meeting. The meeting was chaired by Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, Minister of Tourism of Maldives, and was attended by Mohammed Mohsin from Bangladesh; Lhatu Wangchuk from Bhutan; Prof. Muchkund Dubey and Dr. V.A. Pai Panandiker from India; Y. K. Silwal and Dr. Badri Prasad Shrestha from Nepal; Niaz A. Naik from Pakistan; Mangala Munasinghe, and Prof. Senake Bandaranayake from Sri Lanka; and Naeem U. Hasan, Secretary-General of SAARC. The Secretary-General of SAARC, who opened the meeting, welcomed the members of the GEP to the Secretariat, underscored the responsibility entrusted to the Group and the significance of its third meeting in Kathmandu. The Group deliberated specifically on the areas of Functional Cooperation within the framework of IPA; Poverty Eradication; Social Agenda; Institutional matters, including the strengthening of SAARC Secretariat. The Group further discussed matters pertaining to the comprehensive appraisal of SAARC and measures and mechanisms to further vitalize and enhance the effectiveness of the Association; Perspective Plan of Action beyond 2000, including a vision for 2020 in Economic and Trade Cooperation. They also agreed on the work programme for their Fourth Meeting. The Group is expected to finalise its report and recommendations at its next meeting in Male' in June 1998. Thereafter, the Report of the Group would be presented at the Tenth SAARC Summit, scheduled to be held in Colombo in July this year. SECRETARY-GENERAL VISITS MEMBER COUNTRIES AT THE INVITATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES, SECRETARY-GENERAL NAEEM U. HASAN VISITED MALE' IN APRIL. During his one-day visit to the island capital, Secretary-General met Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of the Maldives and the current Chairperson of SAARC. During the meeting, Secretary-General briefed the Chairperson on the follow-up of the Ninth SAARC Summit directives, with particular reference to the work of the Group of Eminent Persons (GEP) and the progress made by the Association in economic and social sectors since the Male' Summit. Matters pertaining to the Tenth SAARC Summit scheduled for July this year in Colombo, Sri Lanka, also came up for discussion. While in Male', Secretary-General called on Fathulla Jameel, Foreign Minister of the Maldives and discussed matters pertaining to on-going regional cooperation under the framework of SAARC. Likewise, Secretary-General met Salah Shihab, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Maldives and apprised the latter about the current activities of the Association. Besides, Secretary-General called on Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, Maldivian Minister of Tourism and the Chairman, Group of Eminent Persons (GEP) and discussed matters relating to the work programme of the GEP. It may be recalled that the fourth and final meeting of the GEP is being held in the Maldives in early June when it is expected to finalize its report for presentation to the Tenth Summit. After Male', Secretary-General flew over to Colombo to hold bilateral consultations with the Sri Lankan officials. During his short visit to Sri Lanka, Secretary-General paid a courtesy call on Kingsley T. Wickramaratne, Minister of Trade and Commerce when matters pertaining to the Second Meeting of the SAARC Commerce Ministers scheduled for end April in Islamabad were discussed. He also met T.H.W. Woutersz, Foreign Secretary for preliminary discussion on the preparations for the Tenth Summit. Following his two-day visit to Sri Lanka, Secretary-General headed to Dhaka where he attended the First Meeting of the SAARC Information Ministers held there. During his stay in Dhaka, Secretary-General paid a courtesy call on Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The Secretary-General apprised the Prime Minister about the progress achieved by the Association since the Ninth SAARC Summit in Male' in May 1997. The meeting with the Prime Minister also focused on the issues to be taken up during the Tenth Summit in Colombo. While in the Bangladeshi capital, Secretary-General paid courtesy calls on Foreign Minister, Abdus Samad Azad; Finance Minister, S.A.M.S. Kibria; Trade Minister, Tofael Ahmed; State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abul Hasan Chowdhury; and State Minister for Information, Prof. M. A. Sayeed. Secretary-General also met Foreign Secretary, Mr. Mustafizur Rahman and discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to regional cooperation. With the successful conclusion of the Information Ministers' meeting in Dhaka, Secretary-General arrived in Pakistan on the last leg of his tour to attend the Second Meeting of the SAARC Commerce Ministers held in Islamabad in end April. During his visit to Islamabad, Secretary-General also took time to call on the Foreign Minister. SDC GOVERNING BOARD MEETS IN NEW DELHI The fifth meeting of the Governing Board of the SAARC Documentation Centre (SDC) was held on April 16-17 at the Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre (INSDOC) in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by the Members of the Governing Board from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Director Tahir Iqbal Butt represented the SAARC Secretariat at the meeting. The meeting during its two-day deliberations reviewed the implementation of its activities/programmes for the year 1997-98 and agreed on the activities/programmes to be organised during the year 1998-99. The Board considered three major database products which have come out of SDC in the last year namely: (i) Select bibliography on Alternative Systems of Medicine in the SAARC region; (ii) Directory of Research and Industrial Institutions in SAARC region; and (iii) Directory of SAARC Periodicals. While noting the importance of short-term courses and training programmes in enhancing the capacity of the professionals in the field of library and information science, the Governing Board emphasised the importance of information dissemination and the necessity to carry out awareness programmes in the member countries. NEW PUBLICATIONS Following new/updated publications will be available in the SAARC Secretariat by end June: - SAARC at a Glance - SAARC - A Profile - Spectrum (April) COMING EVENTS Following is the tentative list of activities scheduled for May: 4-5 Second Annual Meeting of SAARC-UNDP Advisory Council on Poverty Alleviation, India. 11-13 High-level Expert Group Meeting on Telecommunications, SAARC Secretariat. 22-24 First SAARC Communication Ministers Conference, Sri Lanka 26-27 Fifth Meeting of the Technical Committee on Education, Culture and Sports, Bhutan. VISITORS TO THE SAARC SECRETARIAT The month of April commenced with a large number of visitors from beyond the region visiting the Secretariat. Marc Andre Brault, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada called on the Secretary-General early this month. During the meeting, the Secretary-General briefed the visiting Minister about the on-going SAARC activities. The meeting also focused on the collaborative efforts being pursued by SAARC and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) under the SAARC-CIDA MoU of Cooperation signed in 1997. Peter F. Walker, Canadian Ambassador to Bhutan, India and Nepal, based in New Delhi also called on the Secretary-General and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest. The on-going SAARC-CIDA cooperation figured prominently during the discussion which was also attended by Mr. Michel Cadieux, CIDA representative in Nepal. This was followed by the visit of Mr. Mitsuta, in-charge of the South Asia Division at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Secretariat when he called on the Secretary-General and discussed matters pertaining to SAARC-Japan cooperation. Ms. Carroll Long, UNDP Resident Representative in Kathmandu also took some time this month to call on the Secretary-General during which matters pertaining to SAARC-UNDP cooperation were reviewed. The newly arrived UNESCO Representative in Nepal, Yoshiaki Kitamira called on the Secretary-General during the period under review when the matters of mutual interest were discussed. Yoshiteru Iida, Minister-Counsellor at the Kathmandu-based Japanese Embassy paid a farewell call on the Secretary-General during the month. He was accompanied by Koichi Yotsuya, the incoming incumbent at the Embassy. Other visitors to the Secretariat this month included Komal Chitrakar, President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants; and Birendra Bahadur Shrestha, President, Forum Nepal International who called on the Secretary-General on separate occasions. During the period under review, Dr. Herbert Traxl, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the Kingdom of Nepal, based in New Delhi, who was in Nepal also visited the Secretariat and in the absence of the Secretary-General was received by Officer In-charge K. C. Namgyel and Director L. A. Choudhury. Matters pertaining to SAARC-EU cooperation were discussed. Main
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