ID :
13548
Wed, 07/23/2008 - 12:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/13548
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All set for 15th SAARC Summit in Colombo
Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 23 (BSS)- The stage is now set to hold the two-day eight nation 15th South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit on August 2-3 in Sri Lankan capitalColombo, official sources said here today.
Eight head of states or governments will participate in the Summit, the theme of which is "SAARC for Partnership for our People." Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will lead the Bangladeshdelegation to the Summit.
Besides, the member countries seven observer states- Japan, USA, EU, China, South Korea, Iran and Mauritius will also attendthe regional moot.
The Summit will be preceded by a two-day Council of Ministers meeting from July 31, the sources said. The meeting of the council of ministers will review the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the 14th SAARC Summit in Indiain 2007.
The Ministers meeting will also consider request for observer status of the regional grouping of Australia and Mnyanmar, the sources said. Foreign adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury will represent Bangladesh at the Council of Ministersmeeting.
During the two-day meeting, the sources said, the council of ministers are expected to deliberate extensively issues of urgent regional concern specially food security, energy cooperation andclimate change.
The meeting of the council of ministers will review the progress made so far as regards the implementation of SAFTA, particularly further liberalization of trade, tariff concessions, reduction of sensitive list and harmonization of customs rules and procedures to increase trade among the member countries ofthe forum.
The ministers are expected to sign the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) Charter and the agreement regarding the establishment of South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) with headquarters in Bangladesh. They are also expected to initial a protocol extending the benefit from revenue compensationmechanism to Afghanistan.
The meeting is expected to follow up regional initiativeson increased connectivity and security matters.
The summit leaders will witness the signing of theagreements.
The two-day foreign Secretary level SAARC Standing Committee meeting will begin in Colombo on July 29, which will review recommendations and decisions of different mechanisms of the regional grouping (Technical Committee, Working Group and programming Committee) relating to different areas of regional cooperation in the field of trade, agriculture, health anddisaster preparedness.
The standing committee is also expected to finalize SAARC Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters. A legal expert group of member countries is negotiating to finalize the draft for the standing committee so that it can place it beforethe council of ministers for necessary approval, sources said.
Besides, the meeting will review the performance of 10 SAARCregional centers.
The SAARC Standing Committee meeting will be preceded by atwo-day Programming Committee meeting beginning from July 27.
Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headed by Director General of SAARC will leave here for Colombo on July 25to participate in the Programming Committee meeting.
Eight head of states or governments will participate in the Summit, the theme of which is "SAARC for Partnership for our People." Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will lead the Bangladeshdelegation to the Summit.
Besides, the member countries seven observer states- Japan, USA, EU, China, South Korea, Iran and Mauritius will also attendthe regional moot.
The Summit will be preceded by a two-day Council of Ministers meeting from July 31, the sources said. The meeting of the council of ministers will review the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the 14th SAARC Summit in Indiain 2007.
The Ministers meeting will also consider request for observer status of the regional grouping of Australia and Mnyanmar, the sources said. Foreign adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury will represent Bangladesh at the Council of Ministersmeeting.
During the two-day meeting, the sources said, the council of ministers are expected to deliberate extensively issues of urgent regional concern specially food security, energy cooperation andclimate change.
The meeting of the council of ministers will review the progress made so far as regards the implementation of SAFTA, particularly further liberalization of trade, tariff concessions, reduction of sensitive list and harmonization of customs rules and procedures to increase trade among the member countries ofthe forum.
The ministers are expected to sign the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) Charter and the agreement regarding the establishment of South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) with headquarters in Bangladesh. They are also expected to initial a protocol extending the benefit from revenue compensationmechanism to Afghanistan.
The meeting is expected to follow up regional initiativeson increased connectivity and security matters.
The summit leaders will witness the signing of theagreements.
The two-day foreign Secretary level SAARC Standing Committee meeting will begin in Colombo on July 29, which will review recommendations and decisions of different mechanisms of the regional grouping (Technical Committee, Working Group and programming Committee) relating to different areas of regional cooperation in the field of trade, agriculture, health anddisaster preparedness.
The standing committee is also expected to finalize SAARC Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters. A legal expert group of member countries is negotiating to finalize the draft for the standing committee so that it can place it beforethe council of ministers for necessary approval, sources said.
Besides, the meeting will review the performance of 10 SAARCregional centers.
The SAARC Standing Committee meeting will be preceded by atwo-day Programming Committee meeting beginning from July 27.
Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headed by Director General of SAARC will leave here for Colombo on July 25to participate in the Programming Committee meeting.
