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Address by His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa
at the closing Session of the 15th SAARC Summit |
| Sunday, August 03,
2008 |
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I believe that as the 15th SAARC Summit in
Colombo draws to a close, all of us who have
participated in the deliberations can draw
satisfaction from a most productive and
fruitful outcome.
In the final analysis, all regional
cooperation efforts including in South Asia,
have as their objective, prosperity and
equitable development. Our deliberations
have therefore had a strong focus, on
economic and commercial cooperation.
Excellencies, the Summit has had to grapple
with two issues that have in recent times
come to pose strong challenges throughout
the globe, as well as in our region. The
first is the situation of reduced food
availability; that is leading to a worldwide
rise in food prices. The other is the
increasing cost of energy. Both of them, if
unchecked, can have the potential of undoing
the hard won developmental gains that the
peoples of South Asia and their Governments
have achieved.
Given the seriousness of the subject of food
security, we, the Heads of State or
Government have felt that it deserves to be
addressed through a Special Statement,
released along with the Declaration. In this
Statement, we affirm our resolve to make
South Asia, once again a major granary of
the world, through a series of specific
regional collaborative projects. Towards
this end, we will shortly be convening an
Extraordinary Meeting of our Agriculture
Ministers. At the same time, to ensure
continued nutritional security, we have
directed that the SAARC Food Bank which will
store stocks for distribution in case of a
particular scarcity within the South Asian
region, should be immediately
operationalised.
In the field of energy, we have decided that
our approach will be built on several
pillars. Firstly, we shall try to develop
and conserve conventional sources of energy.
Secondly, there will be a strong focus on
alternative and renewable energy sources,
including hydro-power, solar, wind and bio.
The third pillar complementing the other
two, would consist of progressing energy
reforms, increasing energy efficiency,
transferring technology and trading in
energy. The Energy Ministers of the SAARC
countries are due to meet in Colombo next
year, and they will maintain the political
momentum in this regard.
During the Summit, there was clear
recognition that terrorism has become a
great menace throughout the world, including
in our region. South Asia cannot progress,
unless there is stability and security
throughout the region. It is in recognition
of this reality, that we have ensured the
signature at this Summit of the Convention
on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal
Matters. We have condemned all forms of
terrorist violence and emphasized that our
States should firmly cooperate, especially
through the exchange of information, against
terrorism and organized crime.
There is unanimity amongst us that the South
Asian Free Trade Agreement or SAFTA, as it
is more popularly known, must be implemented
in both letter and in spirit. We, the Heads
of State or Government have also directed
that the implementation of SAFTA must be
accompanied by the expeditious resolution of
the problem of non-tariff barriers within
the region, that come in the way of
realizing the full benefit of lowering
customs duties.
In the social sector, we have directed that
the South Asian University based in New
Delhi should begin its first session in
2010. The University is perhaps one of the
most far-sighted SAARC projects, for, by
bringing together the best of our youth in a
centre of academic excellence, it will over
the years cement even further the bonds of
friendship among the peoples of South Asia.
The Summit has also moved to strengthen the
links of SAARC with the world outside. There
are now eight countries and one regional
association that have Observer status. This
growth in the ranks of the Observers shows
that there is an increasing enthusiasm for
engagement with South Asia, perhaps because
our part of the world is expanding both
economically as well as in terms of human
resources. We have been able during the
Summit to reciprocate this enthusiasm, by
adopting guidelines that will facilitate
SAARC to henceforth embark on practical and
mutually beneficial projects of cooperation
with those Observers, who are interested in
doing so.
Excellencies, the positive outcomes that we
have reached to further the cause of SAARC
would not have been possible if not for your
great wisdom and the valuable cooperation,
extended to me as the Chair. The success of
the Summit affords an auspicious start to
Sri Lanka's stewardship of the Association.
My Government and I pledge our utmost to
faithfully carry out the high
responsibilities assigned to us. I have no
doubt Excellencies, that in our effort to do
so we will have your firm support and
goodwill.
Excellencies, let me bring this Session to a
conclusion by thanking all of you for your
gracious participation. It has indeed been
an honour for the Government and people of
Sri Lanka to have received you in our
country. I wish you a pleasant return back
to your Capitals and continued success in
the service of your peoples.
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