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Addressing Senior SAARC officials at the BMICH yesterday he said this was the first significant meeting since the last Colombo Summit in 1998 after which regional tension between India and Pakistan blocked progress. The three days meeting would discuss various issues including obstacles on SAPTA and SAFTA and on social issues concerning the region. Minister Kadirgamar proposed two conventions on women and children drafted last summit be signed early next year. This meeting was the outcome of Minister Kadirgamar’s informal talks with Foreign Ministers of member states during the last United Nations General Assembly. Including delegates from India and Pakistan all seven-member nations are participating in the Colombo meeting. Minister Kadirgamar said that he always thought “positive” of SAARC since the organisation carries tremendous hope for the people of South Asia although there had been various vacillations in bilateral relationships among member countries. “Obviously we will meet periodically, as we have met now, obstacles, difficulties, political problems are inevitable in the process of sovereign states forming an association,” he added. The Minister further noted that the future of SAARC would not be in the hands of governments. It will be in the hands of the people. Much is to depend on how well our delegates work in this meeting. The people of our region will be watching them and urging them to be reasonable, accommodating, constrictive and committed.
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