Saarc calls for high priority to meet climate challenge

ANIS ALAMGIR FROM THIMPHU
The Independent
30-4-2010

Apr 29: The two-day 16th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit ended this evening in Bhutanese capital Thimphu after adopting the Thimphu Declaration, signing two agreements on regional cooperation and with a joint statement on climate change by the heads of eight member countries.
The summit closed after calling for with high priority for taking collective action to confront climate change, food and energy scarcity in the region as well as the scourge of terrorism.
In the summit declaration, the leaders agreed on the "charter of democracy" for strengthening democracy in the region and collective response on any move of extra-constitutional seizure of state power. They endorsed Bangladesh's proposal for a "Charter of Democracy" for regional cooperation aimed at strengthening good governance. They noted the proposal by Bangladesh to convene an Inter-governmental meeting in Dhaka on the idea of a SAARC Charter of Democracy on which Bangladesh offered to circulate a concept paper.
The heads of state and government of eight SAARC countries agreed on two agreements - SAARC agreement on trade in service (SATIS), and the convention on cooperation on environment, which were signed by the SAARC member countries' foreign ministers.
"I can say with confidence that the decisions we have taken in the past two days have set the stage for SAARC to enter the new era, 25 years after its founding," said Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Y. Thinley in his closing statement.
"The Thimphu statement on climate change that we adopted will provide a strong step to our collaborative efforts to address the issue relating to the climate change at the national, regional and international levels," he added.
The new SAARC chairman also said: "Choice of climate change for the summit was most appropriate. We are able to have in-depth discussion on one of the most challenging issues of our time."
He mentioned that the two agreements signed in the summit -- a decision on south Asian development fund and south Asian university -- would help closer cooperation in the respective area.
"The operationalisation of the SAARC development fund and appointment of its first CEO on Wednesday was an important achievement. Our goal to establish a regional fund for financing regional and sub-regional socio-economic development programmes and projects has now been fully realised'" he said adding: "It is our duty to support the fund so that it can deliver on its important mandate. Bhutan as the host country will provide all possible support to the SDF secretariat."
He said that operationalisation of the South Asia University in New Delhi was another milestone achievement by the summit.
"The university when it opens in August, 2010 is destined to become the centre of excellence for higher learning in south Asia," he added
The Bhutanese prime minister added, "It is you also that we expect to see the establishment of our low carbon research and development institute."
In the closing ceremony Maldives president Mohammed Naseed declared that his country would agree to host the 17 SAARC summit in Male and sought cooperation from the member countries.
According to the Thimphu Statement on Climate Change, the leaders agreed on 16-point action plan.
In the statement the leaders expressed deep concern over the adverse effects of climate change and its impact on the region, particularly on the lives and livelihood of the 1.6 billion people of South Asia.
The leaders expressed their determination to see that South Asia should become a world leader in low-carbon technologies and renewable energy. They were also determined to address the adverse effects of climate change in accordance with the purposes and principles of regional cooperation enshrined in the SAARC Charter.
The statement said they would review the implementation of the Dhaka Declaration and SAARC Action Plan on Climate Change and ensure its timely implementation'
The leaders underlined that an agreed outcome of the global negotiations must emerge from an inclusive, transparent, open and democratic process of negotiations;
Besides the statement on climate change, the SAARC leaders approved the 37-point Thimphu Declaration titled "Towards a Green and Happy South Asia."
The Thimphu Declaration said: "In this Silver Jubilee Year of SAARC, the leaders emphasised the need to develop a 'Vision Statement'. They agreed to form a 'South Asia Forum' for the generation of debate, discussion and the exchange of ideas on South Asia and its future development. The Forum will consist of eminent personalities of diverse background, including from all SAARC member states. The Forum would provide inputs, based on a comprehensive understanding, for charting out the future course of SAARC in the medium and long run and recommend, if required, the necessary improvements required in the existing mechanisms. Such a forum could function on public-private partnership lines, and allow for multiple inputs beyond governments into the consideration of the future of SAARC."
It said: "In order to commemorate the 25th anniversary, the leaders laid emphasis on effective communications and public diplomacy. They drew attention in this regard to the need to reach out to different sections of the South Asian community, particularly its students and youth, private media, private sector, think tanks, civil society, and institutions of economic development."
The leaders resolved that the Silver Jubilee Year should be commemorated by making SAARC truly action oriented by fulfilling commitments, implementing declarations and decisions and operationalising instruments and living up to the hopes and aspirations of one-fifth of humanity.
The declaration said: "The leaders, while appreciating that all the member states had evolved into multi-party democracies, underlined the challenges faced by them in ensuring effective, efficient, transparent and accountable governments. In this regard, they emphasised the need for regional cooperation to strengthen good governance through sharing of experiences, best-practices and establishing institutional linkages.
"The leaders recognised the need to draw on the democratic and participatory tradition collectively represented by the parliamentarians of South Asia for the progress of SAARC. In this context, the leaders recommended the convening of a "Conclave of SAARC Parliamentarians" in line with the SAARC Charter and directed the SAARC Secretariat to convene a working group, comprising nominees of the member states, to work out the modalities for the establishment of such a Conclave," said the declaration.