Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Assignment 2
Assignment 2
ON
ASEAN
&
SAARC
Submitted To
Dr. M. C. Harbola
Submitted By
(Group 8)
Akhil Rana
Aryabhatta
Gorain
Manav Sharma
Nitin Kumar
Gupta
Pratika
Chaturvedi
Rupali Sood
INDEX
S. No.
No
Topic
Page
1.
ASEAN
1.1.
Introduction
1.2.
Objective
1.3.
History
1.4.
Meetings
1.5.
Areas of activity
1.6.
Achievements
11
2.
SAARC
16
2.1.
Introduction
16
2.2.
Objective
2.3.
History
2.4.
Summits
20
2.5.
Areas of activity
21
2.6.
Achievements
1
2
16
17
24
1.2. OBJECTIVE
As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:
1. To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural
development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of
equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a
prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations;
2. To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice
and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and
adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter;
3. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of
common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and
administrative fields;
4. To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research
facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative
spheres;
5. To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of their
agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study
of the problems of international commodity trade, the improvement of
their transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the
living standards of their peoples;
6. To promote Southeast Asian studies; and
7. To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international
and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all
avenues for even closer cooperation among themselves.
Policies
Apart from consultations and consensus, ASEANs agenda-setting and decisionmaking processes can be usefully understood in terms of the so-called Track I
and Track II. Track I refers to the practice of diplomacy among government
channels. The participants stand as representatives of their respective states and
reflect the official positions of their governments during negotiations and
1
discussions. All official decisions are made in Track I. Therefore, "Track I refers to
inter-governmental processes". Track II differs slightly from Track I, involving civil
society groups and other individuals with various links who work alongside
governments. This track enables governments to discuss controversial issues
and test new ideas without making official statements or binding commitments,
and, if necessary, backtrack on positions.
Although Track II dialogues are sometimes cited as examples of the involvement
of civil society in regional decision-making process by governments and other
second track actors, NGOs have rarely got access to this track, meanwhile
participants from the academic community are a dozen think-tanks. However,
these think-tanks are, in most cases, very much linked to their respective
governments, and dependent on government funding for their academic and
policy-relevant activities, and many working in Track II have previous
bureaucratic experience. Their recommendations, especially in economic
integration, are often closer to ASEANs decisions than the rest of civil societys
positions.
The track that acts as a forum for civil society in Southeast Asia is called Track III.
Track III participants are generally civil society groups who represent a particular
idea or brand. Track III networks claim to represent communities and people who
are largely marginalised from political power centres and unable to achieve
positive change without outside assistance. This track tries to influence
government policies indirectly by lobbying, generating pressure through
the media. Third-track actors also organise and/or attend meetings as well as
conferences to get access to Track I officials. While Track II meetings and
interactions with Track I actors have increased and intensified, rarely has the rest
of civil society had the opportunity to interface with Track II. Those with Track I
have been even rarer.
Looking at the three tracks, it is clear that until now, ASEAN has been run by
government officials who, as far as ASEAN matters are concerned, are
accountable only to their governments and not the people. In a lecture on the
occasion of ASEANs 38th anniversary, the incumbent Indonesian President
Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono admitted:
All the decisions about treaties and free trade areas, about declarations and
plans of action, are made by Heads of Government, ministers and senior officials.
And the fact that among the masses, there is little knowledge, let alone
appreciation, of the large initiatives that ASEAN is taking on their behalf.
1.3. HISTORY
ASEAN was preceded by an organisation called the Association of Southeast Asia,
commonly called ASA, an alliance consisting of the Philippines, Malaysia and
Thailand that was formed in 1961. The bloc itself, however, was established on 8
August 1967, when foreign ministers of five countries Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand met at the Thai Department of Foreign
Affairs building in Bangkok and signed the ASEAN Declaration, more commonly
known as the Bangkok Declaration. The five foreign ministers Adam Malik of
Indonesia, Narciso Ramos of the Philippines, Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S.
Rajaratnam of Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand are considered as
the organisation's Founding Fathers.
2
The motivations for the birth of ASEAN were so that its members governing elite
could concentrate on nation building, the common fear of communism, reduced
faith in or mistrust of external powers in the 1960s, as well as a desire for
economic development; not to mention Indonesias ambition to become a
regional hegemon through regional cooperation and the hope on the part of
Malaysia and Singapore to constrain Indonesia and bring it into a more
cooperative framework.
In 1976, the Melanesian state of Papua New Guinea was accorded observer
status. Throughout the 1970s, the organisation embarked on a program of
economic cooperation, following the Bali Summit of 1976. This floundered in the
mid-1980s and was only revived around 1991 due to a Thai proposal for a
regional free trade area. The bloc then grew when Brunei Darussalam became
the sixth member after it joined on 8 January 1984, barely a week after the
country became independent on 1 January.
On 28 July 1995, Vietnam became the seventh member. Laos and Myanmar
joined two years later in 23 July 1997. Cambodia was to have joined together
with Laos and Myanmar, but was deferred due to the country's internal political
struggle. The country later joined on 30 April 1999, following the stabilisation of
its government.
During the 1990s, the bloc experienced an increase in both membership as well
as in the drive for further integration. In 1990, Malaysia proposed the creation of
an East Asia Economic Caucus composing the then-members of ASEAN as well as
the People's Republic of China, Japan, and South Korea, with the intention of
counterbalancing the growing influence of the United States in the Asia -Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) as well as in the Asian region as a whole. This
proposal failed, however, because of heavy opposition from the United States
and Japan. Despite this failure, member states continued to work for further
integration and ASEAN Plus Three was created in 1997.
In 1992, the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) scheme was signed as a
schedule for phasing tariffs and as a goal to increase the regions competitive
advantage as a production base geared for the world market. This law would act
as the framework for the ASEAN Free Trade Area. After the East Asian Financial
Crisis of 1997, a revival of the Malaysian proposal was established in Chiang Mai,
known as the Chiang Mai Initiative, which calls for better integration between the
economies of ASEAN as well as the ASEAN Plus Three countries (China, Japan,
and South Korea).
1.4. MEETINGS
1.4.1.
ASEAN Summit
The ASEAN Leaders' Formal Summit was first held in Bali, Indonesia in 1976.
Its third meeting was held in Manila in 1987 and during this meeting, it was
decided that the leaders would meet every five years. Consequently, the
fourth meeting was held in Singapore in 1992 where the leaders again
agreed to meet more frequently, deciding to hold the summit every three
3
Country
Host
1st
Indonesia
Bali
2nd
45 August 1977
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
3rd
Philippines
Manila
4th
Singapore
Singapore
5th
Thailand
Bangkok
6th
Vietnam
Hanoi
7th
56 November 2001
Brunei
8th
45 November 2002
Cambodia
Phnom Penh
9th
78 October 2003
Indonesia
Bali
10th
Laos
Vientiane
11th
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
12th
Philippines
Cebu
13th
Singapore
Singapore
14th
27 February - 1 March
2009
1011 April 2009
Thailand
15th
23 October 2009
Thailand
16th
89 April 2010
Vietnam
Hanoi
17th
Vietnam
Hanoi
18th
2011
Indonesia
Manado
During the fifth Summit in Bangkok, the leaders decided to meet "informally"
between each formal summit:
ASEAN Informal Summits
Date
Country
Host
1st
30 November 1996
Indonesia
Jakarta
2nd
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
3rd
Philippines
Manila
4th
Singapore
Singapore
1.4.2.
The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a pan-Asian forum held annually by the
leaders of 16 countries in East Asia and the region, with ASEAN in a
leadership position. The summit has discussed issues including trade,
energy and security and the summit has a role in regional community
building.
The members of the summit are all 10 members of ASEAN together with
China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand who combined
represent almost half of the world's population. Russia has applied for
membership of the summit and in 2005 was a guest for the First EAS at the
invitation of the host - Malaysia. The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur
on 14 December 2005 and subsequent meetings have been held after the
annual ASEAN Leaders Meeting.
5
Meeting Country
Location
Date
Note
Second
EAS
Third
EAS
Kuala
Lumpur
14 December
Russia attended as a guest.
2005
Rescheduled from 13 December
2006.
Philippin
Cebu City
es
15 January
2007
Singapor
Singapore
e
Fourth
EAS
Thailand
Cha-am
25 October
and Hua Hin 2009
30 October
2010
1.4.3.
Commemorative summit
Meeting
Host
Location
Date
Note
ASEAN
Japan
Japan Tokyo
Commemora
tive Summit
11, 12
December
2003
ASEAN
China
China Nanning
Commemora
tive Summit
30, 31
October
2006
1, 2 June
2009
ASEAN
Republic of
South
Korea
Jeju-do
Korea
Commemora
tive Summit
1.4.4.
Regional Forum
1.4.5.
Other meetings
Aside from the ones above, other regular meetings are also held. These
include the annual ASEAN Ministerial Meeting as well as other smaller
committees, such as the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development
Center. Meetings mostly focus on specific topics, such as defence or the
environment, and
government.
1.4.6.
are
attended
by Ministers,
instead
of
heads
of
Another Three
The ASEAN Plus Three is a meeting between ASEAN, China, Japan, and
South Korea, and is primarily held during each ASEAN Summit.
7
The ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Area (ACIA) will encourage the free
flow of investment within ASEAN. The main principles of the ACIA are as
follows
All industries are to be opened up for investment, with exclusions to be
phased out according to schedules
Full realisation of the ACIA with the removal of temporary exclusion lists in
manufacturing agriculture, fisheries, forestry and mining is scheduled by 2010
for most ASEAN members and by 2015 for the CLMV (Cambodia, Lao PDR,
Myanmar, and Vietnam) countries.
Indonesia: 539,377
Thailand: 263,979
Malaysia: 192,955
Singapore: 182,231
Philippines: 161,196
Vietnam: 93,164
1.5.7. Charter
On 15 December 2008 the members of ASEAN met in the Indonesian capital
of Jakarta to launch a charter, signed in November 2007, with the aim of
moving closer to "an EU-style community". The charter turns ASEAN into a
legal entity and aims to create a single free-trade area for the region
encompassing 500 million people. The fundamental principles include:
1. Respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity
and national identity of all ASEAN Member States;
2. Shared commitment and collective responsibility in enhancing regional
peace, security and prosperity;
3. Renunciation of aggression and of the threat or use of force or other
actions in any manner inconsistent with international law;
4. Reliance on peaceful settlement of disputes;
5. Non-interference in the internal affairs of ASEAN Member States;
6. Respect for the right of every Member State to lead its national existence
free from external interference, subversion and coercion;
7. Enhanced consultations on matters seriously affecting the common
interest of ASEAN;
8. Adherence to the rule of law, good governance, the principles of
democracy and constitutional government;
9. Respect for fundamental freedoms, the promotion and protection of
human rights, and the promotion of social justice;
10.Upholding the United Nations Charter and international law, including
international humanitarian law, subscribed to by ASEAN Member States;
11.Abstention from participation in any policy or activity, including the use
of its territory, pursued by and ASEAN Member State or non-ASEAN State
or any non-State actor, which threatens the sovereignty, territorial
integrity or political and economic stability of ASEAN Member States;
12.Respect for the different cultures, languages and religions of the peoples
of ASEAN, while emphasising their common values in the spirit of unity in
diversity;
13.The centrality of ASEAN in external political, economic, social and
cultural relations while remaining actively engaged, outward-looking,
inclusive and non-discriminatory; and
14.Adherence to multilateral trade rules and ASEAN's rules-based regimes
for effective implementation of economic commitments and progressive
reduction towards elimination of all barriers to regional economic
integration, in a market-driven economy".
However, the ongoing global financial crisis was stated as being a threat to
the goals envisioned by the charter and also set forth the idea of a
1.6. ACHIEVEMENTS
Aside from improving each member state's economies, the bloc also focused on
peace and stability in the region. On 15 December 1995, the Southeast Asian
Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty was signed with the intention of turning
Southeast Asia into a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. The treaty took effect on 28
March 1997 after all but one of the member states have ratified it. It became
fully effective on 21 June 2001, after the Philippines ratified it, effectively
banning all nuclear weapons in the region.
ASEAN stated that it aims to complete all its free trade agreements with
China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand by 2013, in line
with the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015. In
November 2007 the ASEAN members signed the ASEAN Charter, a
constitution governing relations among the ASEAN members and
establishing ASEAN itself as an international legal entity. During the same
year, the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security was signed
in Cebu on 15 January 2007, by ASEAN and the other members of
the EAS (Australia, People's Republic of China, India, Japan, New Zealand,
South
Korea),
which
promotes energy
security by
finding energy
alternatives to conventional fuels.
11
On February 27, 2009 a Free Trade Agreement with the ASEAN regional block of
10 countries and New Zealand and its close partner Australia was signed, it is
estimated that this FTA would boost aggregate GDP across the 12 countries by
more than US$48 billion over the period 2000-2020.
1.6.4. ASAIHL
ASAIHL or the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher
Learning is a non-governmental organisation founded in 1956 that strives to
strengthen higher learning institutions, espescially in teaching, research,
and public service, with the intention of cultivating a sense of regional
identity and interdependence.
12
List
ASEAN Heritage Sites
Site
Country
Site
Thailand
Philippin
Ba Be National Park
es
Vietnam
Country
Indonesi
a
Vietnam
Philippin
es
Myanma
r
Indonesi
a
Myanma
Khao Yai National Park
r
Thailand
Indonesi
a
Vietnam
Thailand
Myanma
r
Myanma
r
Laos
Cambodi
a
Singapor
e
Thailand
Park
13
Brunei
Thailan
d
Philippin
Ujung Kulon National Park
es
Indones
ia
Cambodi
Keraton Yogyakarta
a
Indones
ia
1.6.6.
Scholarship
The ASEAN Way - the official regional anthem of ASEAN, music by Kittikhun
Sodprasert and Sampow
Triudom Thailand;
Lyrics
by Payom
Valaiphatchra Thailand.
ASEAN
Song
of
Unity or ASEAN
Hymn,
music
by Ryan
Cayabyab Philippines.
Let us move ahead, an ASEAN song, composed by Candra
Darusman Indonesia.
1.6.9. Sports
Southeast Asian Games
The Southeast Asian Games, commonly known as the SEA Games, is a
biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the current 11
countries of Southeast Asia. The games is under regulation of the
Southeast Asian Games Federation with supervision by the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia.
14
Football Championship
The ASEAN Football Championship is a biennial Football competition
organised by the ASEAN Football Federation, accredited by FIFA and
contested by the national teams of Southeast Asia nations. It was
inaugurated in 1996 as Tiger Cup, but after Asia Pacific
Breweries terminated the sponsorship deal, "Tiger" was renamed
"ASEAN".
15
2.2. OBJECTIVE
2.3. HISTORY
Conception (1977-80)
The Meeting of Foreign Secretaries (1981-83)
The Meeting of Foreign Ministers (1983-85)
The Summits (1985-2004)
The first concrete proposal for establishing a framework for regional cooperation
in South Asia was made by the late president of Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman, on
May 2, 1980. Prior to this, the idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was
discussed in at least three conferences: the Asian Relations Conference in New
Delhi in April 1947, the Baguio Conference in the Philippines in May 1950, and
the Colombo Powers Conference in April 1954. Since 1977, the Bangladesh
president seemed to
17
During this critical period, President Ziaur Rahmans initiative for establishing a
regional organization which would give the leaders of South Asian countries an
opportunity to improve their understanding of one anothers problems and to
deal with conflicts before they turned into crisis, became much more appealing.
While the Bangladesh proposal was promptly endorsed by Nepal, Sri Lanka, the
Maldives and Bhutan, India and Pakistan were sceptical initially. Indias main
concern was the proposals reference to the security matters in South Asia.
Indian policy-makers also feared that Ziaur Rahmans proposal for a regional
organization might provide an opportunity for new smaller neighbours to
regionalize all bilateral issues and to join with each other to gang up against
India. Pakistan assumed that it might be an Indian strategy to organize the other
South Asian countries against Pakistan and ensure a regional market for Indian
products, thereby consolidating and further strengthening Indias economic
dominance in the region. However, after a series of quiet diplomatic
consultations between South Asian foreign ministers at the UN headquarters in
New York from August to September 1980, it was agreed that Bangladesh would
prepare the draft of a working paper for discussion among the foreign secretaries
of South Asian countries. The new Bangladesh draft paper, sensitive to Indias
and Pakistans concerns, dropped all references to security matters
18
19
2.4. SUMMITS
principle with the desire of the Peoples Republic of China and Japan to be
associated as observers. The Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance in
Customs Matters Establishment of SAARC Arbitration Council, and the Limited
Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Mutual Administrative
Assistance in Tax Matters were signed during the thirteenth SAARC Summit. Its
functions include formulating policy, reviewing progress of regional cooperation,
identifying new areas of cooperation and establishing additional mechanisms
that may be necessary. The Standing Committee comprising Foreign Secretaries,
monitors and coordinates SAARC programmes of cooperation, approves projects
including their financing and mobilizes regional and external resources. It meets
as often as necessary and reports to the Council of Ministers. The Association
also convenes meetings at Ministerial Level on specialized themes. The
Committee on Economic Cooperation consisting of Secretaries of Commerce
oversees regional cooperation in the economic field.
During the Twelfth Summit in Islamabad, the SAARC Social Charter was signed in
order to address social issues such as population stabilization, empowerment of
women, youth mobilization, human resource development, promotion of health
and nutrition, and protection of children, which are keys to the welfare and wellbeing of all South Asians. South Asian States have adopted Conventions on the
Suppression of Terrorism (including Additional Protocol signed in January 2004 in
Islamabad), Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Trafficking in Women
and Children, and Child Welfare in South Asia. An Agreement on Food Security
Reserve is also in place. During the 12th SAARC summit held in Islamabad the
leaders of South Asia reiterated their commitment to form South Asian Economic
Union (SAEU). If formed, it will pave the way for more ambitious but entirely
achievable goals such as a Free Trade Area, an Economic Union, open borders,
and a common currency for the region. As President Pervez Musharraf said, we
must expand SAARC charter to discuss bilateral issues at the regional level.
There can be no development in the absence of peace. There can be no peace,
so long as political issues and disputes continue to fester. The Twelfth summit
renewed the urgency to deal with poverty in the region. For this purpose, the
Summit directed the Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation
(ISACPA) to submit to the next Summit a comprehensive and realistic blueprint
setting out SAARC Development Goals for the
20
next five years in the areas of poverty alleviation, education, health and
environment.
The Governors of the Central Banks of member states under the auspices of
SAARC FINANCE meet regularly to consider cooperation in financial matters. For
strengthening cooperation in information and media related activities of the
Association, the Heads of National Television and Radio Organizations of member
countries meet annually. Similarly, the SAARC Audio-Visual Exchange (SAVE)
Committee disseminates information both on SAARC and its Member States
through regular Radio and TV programmes.
In the field of education, the Member States cooperate through the forums of
SACODiL (SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning) and Heads of
Universities Grants Commission/Equivalent Bodies.
Memoranda of Understanding have been signed to promote collaboration with
UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), UNICEF (United
Nations Childrens Fund), UNDP (United Nations Development Programme),
UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific),
UNDCP (United
Nations Drug Control Programme), ITU (International
Telecommunications Union), APT (Asia Pacific Telecommunity), WHO (World
Health Organization), UNIFEM (United Nations Fund for Women), CIDA (Canadian
International Development Agency), EC (European Commission), PTB (German
Metrology Institute), WB (World Bank), ADB (Asian Development Bank), UNAIDS
(Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) and SACEP (South Asia
Cooperative Environment Programme).
Regular dialogues with other Regional Organizations such as ASEAN (Association
of South-East Asian Nations), ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) and PIFS
(Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat) are held with a view to promoting cooperation
among sub-regional organizations. The Association promotes interaction on
multilateral issues of common concern to its members and has identified areas in
which collective positions could be projected at international forums. These
include trade, finance, environment, agriculture, women and children,
information and telecommunications. Beyond official linkages, SAARC also
encourages and facilitates cooperation in private sector through the SAARC
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), which is a SAARC Apex Body. Other
such bodies are SAARCLAW and South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA). In
addition, the status of SAARC Recognized Bodies has been accorded
to
professional groups in South Asia including Architects, Management
Development Institutions, University Women, Town Planners, Cardiologists,
Dermatologists, Teachers, Writers, Insurance Organizations, Diploma Engineers,
Radiological and Surgical Care Societies. The Association of Speakers and
Parliamentarians enjoy special recognition by the Heads of State or Government.
2.5.2. Communications
The TC strives to bring about over-all improvement in the postal services in
the region. The TC conducts training, seminars, pertaining to mail
accounting, postal management services, postal operations, and
mechanisations of postal operations, agency functions, financial services,
customer are, EMS and postal marketing. The group also aims at providing
telecommunication services to majority of the rural population and thus
promoting technological and human resource development and
management
attention by the State Parties. The SAARC Tuberculosis Centre was established in
Kathmandu in 1992. The SAARC Ministerial Conference on Children of South Asia
in 1996 expressed the need to formulate a Convention on Regional
Arrangements on the Promotion of Child Welfare in South Asia and launched the
SAARC Decade of the Rights of the Child from 2001 to 2010.
2.5.9. Tourism
The TC promotes cooperation in the field of tourism in the region. The TC
conducts training programmes, exchange of information, joint promotion,
joint venture investment, intra-regional tourism etc. It also produces the
SAARC Travel Guide and SAARC tourism promotional films on the theme
2.5.10. Transport
The TC covers three major segments of transport, i.e. land transport,
divided into roadways and railways; sea transport sub-divided into inland
waterways and shipping; and air transport. They exchange data and
information, preparation of status papers, compilation of database and
directories of consultancy centres for transport sector. Transport has been
recognised a vital area in providing access to products and markets and
of
productivity,
particularly
with
the
23
2.6. ACHIEVEMENTS
Several factors such as political, economic, security and potentiality of mutual
economic benefit through regionalism seem to have influenced President Ziaur
Rahmans thinking about establishing a regional organization in South Asia.
SAARCs existence, however, has enabled South Asian political leaders to meet
regularly and carry on informal discussions to address their mutual problems.
This is no mean achievement given South Asias past history and low level of
interaction among South Asian countries since their independence. Informal talks
among the leaders at regularly held SAARC meetings have led to inter-elite
reconciliation on many sensitive issues, producing some noteworthy results in
South Asia. The informal talks between the Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers
at the second SAARC Summit meeting at Bangalore in November 1986 led to the
diffusion of tension between the two countries on the issue of Indias military
exercise, Operation Brasstacks, on the Indo-Pakistan border, and the India-Sri
Lanka talks at the 1987 SAARC foreign ministers meeting led to their accord on
the Tamil problem. As a result of an informal meeting and discussion between
Prime Minister of India and Pakistan, Narasimha Rao and Nawaz Sharif, at Davos
(Switzerland), in 1992, the Pakistani government took action to prevent the move
of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) to cross the ceasefire line in
Kashmir later that year. The Davos meeting was possible because of an earlier
informal agreement between the two leaders at the sixth SAARC Summit
meeting at Colombo in December 1991. Given this utility of SAARC, can the
organization grow or expand its role in the coming decades?
The Heads of State or Government during the Ninth SAARC Summit agreed for
the first time that a process of informal political consultations would prove useful
in promoting peace, stability, amity and accelerated socio-economic cooperation
in the region. The leaders reiterated this intent during their Tenth and Eleventh
Summits in Colombo and Kathmandu respectively also. The Agreement on
SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) was signed in 1993 and four
rounds of trade negotiations have been concluded. With the objective of moving
towards a South Asian Economic Union (SAEU), the Agreement on South Asian
Free Trade Area (SAFTA) was signed during the Twelfth Summit in Islamabad in
January 2004. SAFTA may enter into force by the end of the year 2006. The
Association has carried out Regional Studies on trade, manufactures and
services, environment and
24
poverty alleviation, SAFTA and Customs matters. Since its inception in 1984
there have also been serious differences among member countries over the aims
and functioning of SAARC. Such differences have been pronounced in verbal
bickerings in several SAARC meetings. This is in the face of the fact that closer
social, economic and cultural ties (the espoused ideals of SAARC) are considered
the one and only hope for building regional cooperation efforts in South Asia in
the coming years. Indeed, increasing rationalization of world trade and the
fluidity of the emerging global system has increased trade within each trade bloc
and those countries that do not belong to any trade blocs are likely to be the
losers. This also provides a strong rationale for sustaining the SAARC vis--vis
future trade prospects of South Asia. The assumption that peace can be achieved
through SAARC without addressing the political problems of the region has
neither been able to cultivate peace nor to invigorate the SAARC process
successfully. Though since its very inception it has been regularly able to hold
Summit meetings yet there have been interruptions in between owing mainly to
intrastate conflicts between the member countries.
25