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.

With regard to energy security, the approach of SAARC will be built on several pillars, which will include developing and conserving conventional sources of energy; a strong focus on alternative and renewable energy sources, including hydro-power, solar, wind and bio-fuels; progressing energy reforms, increasing energy efficiency, transferring technology, and trading in energy.

President Rajapaksa said there was unanimity that the South Asian Free Trade Agreement or SAFTA, which aims through the eventual elimination of tariffs to sharply increase the volumes of trade and the sharing of prosperity, must be implemented in both letter and in spirit. The SAARC Leaders 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.

Here is the text of President Rajapaksa’s statement to the media.

The Summit which concluded just a little while ago had as its central theme the strengthening of the partnership between all the peoples of South Asia, for growth and prosperity. In other words, SAARC has committed itself to ensuring that its endeavours would remain strongly centred on the peoples of South Asia. The media will be crucial to the realization of this commitment, for it is the media which provides that connectivity essential to ensuring that Governments give the people the foremost place. Therefore, I do welcome this opportunity, soon after taking over as Chair of SAARC, to speak to the media. I convey to the peoples of our region through you the firm endorsement by all the Heads of State or Government of the Summit theme and Declaration - "Partnership for Growth for our People".

In the final analysis, all regional cooperation efforts including in South Asia, have as their objective prosperity and equitable development. Economic and commercial cooperation therefore occupied a very high place in the Summit deliberations.

You would also appreciate, Ladies and Gentlemen, that the Summit 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, all the Leaders felt that it deserved to be addressed through a Special Statement, released along with the Declaration. In this Statement, 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. Towards this end, an Extraordinary Meeting of the Agriculture Ministers will shortly be convened to address all connected issues on Asian matters for us to follow up. At the same time, to ensure continued nutritional security, directions have been given that the SAARC Food Bank, which will store stocks for distribution in case of a scarcity within the South Asian region, should be immediately operationalised. Let me add that since the issue of food has global ramifications, the action SAARC undertakes will not be isolated from similar efforts in other regions of the world.

In the field of energy, the approach will be built on several pillars. Firstly, there will be an effort to 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-fuels. The third pillar, which complements 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.

There was unanimity that the South Asian Free Trade Agreement or SAFTA, as it is more popularly known, and which aims through the eventual elimination of tariffs to sharply increase the volumes of trade and the sharing of prosperity, must be implemented in both letter and in spirit. The SAARC Leaders 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.

The Summit was able to ensure the finalization and signature of two Agreements, vital for economic and trade collaboration. One of them relates to the establishment of the South Asian Regional Standards Organization which will harmonize the quality assurance levels of goods traded between the member States. The other was the Charter of the SAARC Development Fund, which with its initial base of US $ 300 million will provide financial support for both infrastructure development and social upliftment projects in South Asia.

All the Leaders participating in the Summit were absolutely clear 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 this spirit, that the Summit was able to finalize and then have signed the Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. The Leaders condemned all forms of terrorist violence and emphasized that the Member States should firmly cooperate, especially through the exchange of information, against terrorism and organized crime.

The SAARC countries which together account for over 1/5th of humanity, have always been conscious of the need to preserve for future generations the common heritage of the environment which nurtures all mankind. The Declaration therefore has a significant section on this issue, underscoring the resolve of the SAARC family to progress on the path of development in harmony with nature, and drawing on the ancient South Asian cultural values and traditions of environmental responsibility and sustainability. The Leaders have also directed that the region should establish a Natural Disaster Rapid Response Mechanism, operating under the SAARC Disaster Management Centre.

The concern for the environment has included the issue of depleting water resources, which is a problem encountered in many areas of the world. SAARC will accordingly try to build up its collective regional capacities through research on water conservation, combining traditional conservation approaches such as rain water harvesting with newer approaches such as river basin management.

In the social sector, the Summit 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 projects undertaken by SAARC, for through 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 given practical effect to its theme of forging partnerships based on people, by recommending introducing a uniformly low call charge rate for IDD communication within South Asia. At present, though the rates have admittedly been coming down over the years, nevertheless the call charges within the region remain somewhat costly.

The Summit has also moved to strengthen the links of SAARC with the world outside. After endorsement during the discussions, 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. The Summit resolved 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. We have also agreed on procedures as to how SAARC will interact with inter- governmental organizations.

In conclusion, Ladies and Gentlemen, may I say that our deliberations were characterized by a spirit of great commitment to the continued progress of all the Member States and peoples of SAARC.

The success of the Summit affords an auspicious start to Sri Lanka's tenure as Chair of the Association. My Government and I pledge our utmost to faithfully carry out the high responsibilities assigned to us. I have no doubt Ladies and Gentlemen, that in our effort to do so we will have the firm support and goodwill of all our fellow SAARC countries and South Asian peoples.