THE SAARC SAGA

Swati GargGlory Dwarkesh

Indian Institute of Mass CommunicationDhenkanal

WITH THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF:

o Globalization has shrunk the world into a ‘global village’.

o It has enabled people to connect both virtually and geographically.

o This calls for co-operation among nations for the achievement of

welfare.o ‘Common Interests’ have enabled

nations to connect and work together.

PROLOGUE

THE BIRTH OF SAARC

HISTORYo SAARC(South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) was

formed under Article 52 of United Nation’s Charter.o Idea first conceived by President Zia-Ur-Rehman of

Bangladesh during 1977-78.o In May 1980, formal call for SAARC regional cooperation

issued to all by him.o First meeting of foreign secretaries of seven countries-

Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan held in Colombo in April 1981.

o Formally established on December 8,1985 after four and a half years of preparation.

o Afghanistan became eighth member of SAARC in April 2007 at 14th SAARC summit.

Integrated Programme of Action(IPA) - Due to geographical proximity, the 12 areas of

‘common interest’ for regional cooperation were identified:

Agriculture Health & rural development Meterology Telecommunication Postal services Transport Scientific and technological development

WHY SAARC?

Sports Arts and culture Prevention of drug trafficking and abuse Women development Education

a. Cooperation within the framework of the Association is based on respect for the principles of sovereign equality,

territorial integrity, political independence, noninterference in the internal affairs of other states and mutual benefit.

b. Such cooperation is to complement and not to substitute bilateral or multilateral cooperation.

c. Such cooperation should be consistent with bilateral and multilateral obligations of the member states.

d. Decisions at all levels in SAARC are taken on the basis of unanimity.

e. Bilateral and contentious issues are excluded from its deliberations.

PRINCIPLES

i. To promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life;ii. To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region

and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realise their fullpotentials;

iii. To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia;iv. To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another's problems;

v. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural,technical and scientific fields;

vi. To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries;vii. To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of

common interests; andviii. To cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and

purposes.

OBJECTIVES

o The SAARC region is a landmass of 3.3% of the world area and has one-fifth of the population and 9.12% of total world economy.

Member Countrieso All the SAARC countries can be categorized into different

groups. o Firstly, there are three land-locked countries namely

Bhutan, Nepal and Afghanistan.o Secondly, there are two Islands such as Sri Lanka and

Maldives and o Thirdly the three countries India, Pakistan and

Bangladesh which have the Indian Ocean in the South and South West and the Indo-Gangatic plains stretching along

these countries.

COMPOSITION

o Established in Kathmandu 16 January 1987.o It is headed by Secretary General

o The Secretariat coordinates and monitors implementation of activities, prepares for

services and meetings, serves as a channel of communication between the associations and its

member-states and other regional organizations.

o Present Secretary General is Arjun Bahadur Thapa of Nepal (1 March 2014- present)

SECRETARIAT

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITIONS

As an organization, SAARC mainly operates through six apex bodies which ensure regional cooperation on multiple levels:

o SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) : Intra-regional trade

o SAARCLAW (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Law): to disseminate information and ensure concerns and developments

o South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) :Strengthening and serving accounting professionals

o South Asia Foundation (SAF) : regional co-operationo South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children

(SAIEVAC): ending all forms of violence against childreno Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL):

Strengthening cultural connectivity

RECOGNISED BODIES

SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement(SAPTA)

o To promote and sustain mutual trade and economic cooperation within SAARC region through the exchange

of concessions.o Recognition of special needs of least developed

contracting states and agreement on concrete preferential measures in their favour.

o The establishment of Inter-Governmental Group(IGG) to formulate an agreement to establish SAPTA by 1997 was

approved in sixth summit held in Colombo in 1991.o Agreement was signed on 11 September 1993 and came

into force on 7 December 1995.

TRANSITION FROM ‘SAPTA’ TO ‘SAFTA’

South Asian Free Trade Agreement(SAFTA)o Agreement reached at 12th SAARC summit at Islamabad on 6

January 2004.o It led to free trade and agreement of goods paving the way for

South-Asian Economic Union on the lines of EU.o The exchange of mutual experience among the countries is

more relevant, cheap and cost effective and provides a vast scope for mutual cooperation in various areas.

o Mostly agriculture will continue to dominate these economies for many years to come.

o The economy development such as food for growing population, fodder for livestock, raw material and market for industries are

the main market goods.

1) Australia2) China3) United States- 20064) Japan5) Mauritius-20076) Myanmar7) South Korea-20068) Iran-20079) European Union-2006

OBSERVERS

1) Myanmar(Applied for full membership)2) Turkey (Observer status)3) Russia (Observer status)4) South Africa (Observer status)

POTENTIAL FUTURE MEMBERS

SAARC DECADES

1991-2000 SAARC decade of the girl child2001-2010 SAARC decade of the rights of the child

2006-2015 SAARC decade of poverty alleviation2010-2020 SAARC decade of intra-regional connectivity

1. Bangladesh- Dhaka 19852. India-Bengaluru 19863. Nepal-Kathmandu 19874. Pakistan-Islamabad 19885. Maldives-Male 19906. Sri Lanka- Colombo19917. Bangladesh- Dhaka 19938. India –New Delhi 19959. Maldives- Male 199710.Sri Lanka-Colombo 1998

SUMMITS

11.Nepal-Kathmandu 200212.Pakistan-Islamabad 200413.Bangladesh- Dhaka 200514.India- New Delhi 200715.Sri Lanka –Colombo 200816.Bhutan-Thimpu 201017.Maldives-Addu city 201118.Nepal-Kathmandu 201419.Pakistan(likely to be held)- Islamabad Nov 2017

SUMMITS

o Nuclearisation (Pakistan) 1. Cross-border terrorism2. Civil warso Poverty and unemploymento High budget deficits and low growth rateso Inflationary pressureo Unfavourable trade balanceo Developed countries pulling the third-world countries

downo Lack of intra-regional and inter-regional cooperation

CHALLENGES

o India’s ‘big-brother’ statuso The three nations boycotting is a healthy

sign for us.o Absence of even one member country

leads to postponement/cancellation of the summit.

o The remaining four countries(Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives) cannot hold the summit.

o Simultaneous cornering of Pakistan by Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh along with India itself marks a victory over cross-border terrorism.

o Strong market hold of India.

PRESENT RELEVANCE TO INDIA

o Official website of SAARC http://saarc-sec.org///training.itcilo.it//

Wikipedia

BIBLIOGRAPHY