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| Monday 04 August 2008 |
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SAARC summit concludes with leaders pledging
action on food security |
| Leaders of South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) at the
concluding ceremony of its 15th Summit in
Colombo yesterday issued a special ‘Colombo
Statement on Food Security’, pledging action
to ensure region-wide food security and make
South Asia, once again, the granary of the
world.
[Full Story] |
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| Sunday 03 August 2008 |
15th SAAARC
Summit
Far reaching decisions on key issues
affecting region
– President tells media |
| The 15th SAARC Summit that concluded earlier
today took far reaching decisions on key
issue affecting the region such as
terrorism, food and fuel security, and
trade. On terrorism the Summit finalized and
signed the Convention on Mutual Legal
Assistance in Criminal Matters; on food
security it issued a Special Statement,
released along with the Summit Declaration,
where the Leaders of the SAARC countries
affirm their resolve to make South Asia once
again a major granary of the world, through
a series of inter-connected and specific
regional collaborative projects, said
Mahinda Rajapaksa at a media briefing after
the conclusion of the Summit at the BMICH
today.
[Full Story] |
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The Colombo Declaration
Renewed resolve for collective regional
efforts |
| The Heads of State or Government of SAARC
reaffirmed their commitment to the
principles and objectives enshrined in the
SAARC Charter. They renewed their resolve
for collective regional efforts to
accelerate economic growth, social progress
and cultural development which would promote
the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and
improve their quality of life, thereby
contributing to peace, stability, amity and
progress in the region.
[Full Story] |
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SAARC Summit took far-reaching decisions of
key issues - President
Focus terrorism, food and fuel security, and
trade |
| The 15th SAARC Summit that concluded has
taken far-reaching decisions on key issues
affecting the region such as terrorism, food
and fuel security and trade, with
discussions that had a strong focus, on
economic and commercial cooperation and
members can draw satisfaction from a most
productive and fruitful outcome, said
President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his statement
at the conclusion of the 15th SAARC Summit
at the BMICH today.
[Full Story] |
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| Saturday 02 August 2008 |
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SAARC leaders condemn terrorism |
| Terrorism featured
prominently in the addresses of the SAARC
leaders at the inauguration of the 15th
SAARC Summit. They were united in
condemnation of terrorism and warning of the
threat it posed to development of the
region.
[Full Story] |
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Redouble collective efforts to combat
terrorism – President to
SAARC |
| Addressing the SAARC
Heads of State and Government today
President Mahinda Rajapaksa called on then
to redouble efforts for collective action to
combat terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations, remembering that It the
element of interdependence which is crucial
for a durable peace and the protection of
democratic values in the region.
[Full Story] |
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India hands over SAARC chair to Sri Lanka |
| Indian Prime Minister
Dr. Manmohan Singh officially handed over
the SAARC chairmanship to President Mahinda
Rajapaksa in Colombo this morning.
[Full Story] |
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| Friday 01 August 2008 |
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Pakistan firmly supports Sri Lanka’s
territorial integrity – Prime Minister
Gilani |
| The Prime Minister of
Pakistan Makhdoom Raza Gilani expressed his
country’s firm support for Sri Lanka’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity, in
discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa,
at bi-lateral talks that are part of the
15th SAARC Summit in Colombo, today (Aug
01).
[Full Story] |
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Prosperity of India and Sri Lanka closely
linked
- Manmohan Singh |
| One cannot envisage a prosperous India
without strong links with her neighbors, and
the present SAARC Summit in Colombo provided
an opportunity for such a partnership, said
the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan
Singh, in discussions with President Mahinda
Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat
today.
[Full Story] |
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New air links between Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh
- President
and Bangladeshi leader |
| The establishment of
new air links between Sri Lanka and Dhaka
was among the key items discussed between
the Head of State and Chief Advisor of
Bangladesh Dr, Fakhruddin Ahmed and Sri
Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at
bi-lateral talks held at the Presidential
Secretariat today.
[Full Story] |
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Sri Lanka and Bhutan – the common challenge
of climate change |
| Bhutan and Sri Lanka
share common ideals and traditions, as well
as challenges, said the Prime Minister of
Bhutan Lyonpo Jigmi Y Thinley. Among the
challenges faced by the two countries were
the pressing issues of climate change.
[Full Story] |
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Lumbini Development discussed by Nepali and
Sri Lankan leaders |
| Plans to develop
Lumbini as a major visitor and pilgrim
destination n in South Asia featured
prominently the bi-lateral discussions
between Sri Lanka President Mahinda
Rajapaksa and the Prime Minister of Nepal,
Girija Prasad Koirala at the Presidential
Secretariat today.
[Full Story] |
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Bangladesh Chief Adviser arrives |
| Chief Adviser of
Bangladesh Fakhruddin Ahmed arrived in
Bandaranaike International Airport
Katunayake to attend the 15th SAARC Summit
from 2-3 August in Colombo.
[Full Story] |
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SAARC round up
Terrorism to be a criminal offence in the
region |
| The SAARC Council of
Ministers yesterday reached agreement on
Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters,
whereby terrorism would be considered a
criminal offence in the SAARC region.
[Full Story] |
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Indian PM calls for SAARC unity to combat
challenges |
| Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh stressed upon the importance
of cooperation among SAARC countries to
address various challenges facing the
region, including terrorism, and has
expressed confidence that the 15th summit in
Colombo on August 2-3 will provide impetus
to many decisions already taken by the eight
member States.
[Full Story] |
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| Thursday 31 July 2008 |
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SAARC takes South Asia to position of
strength and importance - President |
| The partnership of SAARC has grown in
strength and importance over the years. It
is one that, we trust, will take the South
Asian Region to a position of strength and
importance, with a singular voice and new
approaches, to dealing with the many issues
that confront both South Asia and the world
at large, says President Mahinda Rajapaksa
in his message for the 15th SAARC Summit
being held in Colombo.
[Full Story] |
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Council of Ministers meeting begins today |
| The two-day Council of
Ministers meeting of the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
is commencing this morning at the
Bandaranaike Memorial International
Conference Hall (BMICH).
[Full Story] |
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SAARC round
up
Standing Committee agrees on series of
recommendations |
| The 15th SAARC Summit
has placed food security high on its agenda
with the promise of more state intervention
including a SAARC Food Bank to help any
Member State in case of exigencies.
[Full Story] |
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| Wednesday 30 July 2008 |
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SAARC journalist forum begins today |
| The fourth SAARC
Journalist Summit of South Asian Free Media
Association (SAFMA) will be inaugurated at
the Hotel Trans Asia, Colombo today.
[Full Story] |
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SAARC moving from declaration phase to
implementation |
| The ongoing 15th SAARC Summit would be
the turning point in its history, with the
declaration phase progressing to
implementation, spokesman for the 15th SAARC
summit Prasad Kariyawasam said.
[Full Story] |
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| Tuesday 29 July 2008 |
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SAARC Standing Committee begins
deliberations |
| The Standing Committee
of the 15th SAARC summit constituting
Foreign Secretaries of the eight Member
States will commence deliberations today on
the key issues to be taken up at the main
Summit to be held from August 2 to 3.
[Full Story] |
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| Monday 28 July 2008 |
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SAARC preliminary meeting begins:Terrorism,
food security, energy top agenda |
| The meeting of
officials of 15th SAARC began yesterday in
Colombo with the main focus on a joint
approach to combating terrorism, maximising
energy and water resources, food security
and poverty alleviation.
[Full Story] |
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| Friday 25 July 2008 |
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Indian FM calls for SAARC Convention on
Criminal matters |
| The Indian External
Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday
said that India would push for a convention
on mutual legal assistance among the SAARC
nations over criminal matters.
[Full Story] |
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