PROJECT REPORT

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. Topic Page
No
1. ASEAN 1

1.1. Introduction 1

1.2. Objective 1

1.3. History 2

1.4. Meetings 3

1.5. Areas of activity 8

1.6. Achievements 11

2. SAARC 16

2.1. Introduction 16

2.2. Objective 16

2.3. History 17

2.4. Summits 20

2.5. Areas of activity 21

2.6. Achievements 24

i
1. Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN)

1.1. INTRODUCTION
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated ASEAN is
a geo-political and economic organization of 10 countries located in Southeast
Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has expanded
to include Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

ASEAN spans over an area of 4.46 million km 2, 3% of the total land area of Earth,
with a population of approximately 600 million people, 8.8% of the world
population. In 2010, its combined nominal GDP had grown to USD $1.8 trillion. If
ASEAN were a single country, it would rank as the 9th largest economy in the
world and the 3rd largest in Asia in terms of nominal GDP.

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, ASEAN’s agenda-setting and decision-
making 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 ASEAN’s decisions than the rest of civil society’s
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 ASEAN’s 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 Indonesia’s 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 region’s 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 organisation holds meetings, known as the ASEAN Summit,

where heads of government of each member meet to discuss and resolve
regional issues, as well as to conduct other meetings with other countries
outside of the bloc with the intention of promoting external relations.
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
 years. In 2001, it was decided to meet annually to address urgent issues
affecting the region. Member nations were assigned to be the summit host
in alphabetical order except in the case of Myanmar which dropped its 2006
hosting rights in 2004 due to pressure from the United States and
the European Union.

By December 2008, the ASEAN Charter came into force and with it, the
ASEAN Summit will be held twice in a year.

The formal summit meets for three days. The usual itinerary is as follows:

• Leaders of member states would hold an internal organisation

meeting.

• Leaders of member states would hold a conference together with

foreign ministers of the ASEAN Regional Forum.

• A meeting, known as ASEAN Plus Three, is set for leaders of three

Dialogue Partners (People's Republic of China, Japan, South Korea)

• A separate meeting, known as ASEAN-CER, is set for another set of

leaders of two Dialogue Partners (Australia, New Zealand).

ASEAN Formal Summits

Date Country Host

1st 23–24 February 1976 Indonesia Bali

2nd 4–5 August 1977 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur

3rd 14–15 December 1987 Philippines Manila

4th 27‒29 January 1992 Singapore Singapore

5th 14‒15 December 1995 Thailand Bangkok

6th 15‒16 December 1998 Vietnam Hanoi

7th 5‒6 November 2001 Brunei Bandar Seri Begawan

8th 4‒5 November 2002 Cambodia Phnom Penh

9th 7‒8 October 2003 Indonesia Bali

10th 29‒30 November 2004 Laos Vientiane

11th 12‒14 December 2005 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur

 4

12th 11‒14 January 20071 Philippines Cebu

13th 18‒22 November 2007 Singapore Singapore

27 February - 1 March
th Cha Am, Hua Hin
14 2009 Thailand
Pattaya
10–11 April 2009

15th 23 October 2009 Thailand Cha Am, Hua Hin

16th 8–9 April 2010 Vietnam Hanoi

17th 28-31 October 2010 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 14‒16 December 1997 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur

3rd 27‒28 November 1999 Philippines Manila

4th 22‒25 November 2000 Singapore Singapore

1.4.2. East Asia Summit

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

Kuala 14 December
First EAS Malaysia Russia attended as a guest.
Lumpur 2005

Rescheduled from 13 December

Second Philippin 15 January 2006.
Cebu City
EAS es 2007 Cebu Declaration on East Asian
Energy Security

Singapore Declaration on Climate

Change, Energy and the
[45]
Third Singapor 21 November Environment
Singapore
EAS e 2007 Agreed to establish Economic
Research Institute for ASEAN and
East Asia

The date and location of the

venue was rescheduled several
times, and then a Summit
scheduled for 12 April 2009
Fourth Cha-am 25 October at Pattaya, Thailand was
Thailand
EAS and Hua Hin 2009 cancelled when protesters
stormed the venue. The Summit
has been rescheduled for October
2009 and transferred again from
Phuket to Cha-am and Hua Hin.

Officially invited the US and

30 October
Fifth EAS Vietnam Hanoi Russia to participate in future EAS
2010
as full-fledged members

1.4.3. Commemorative summit

A commemorative summit is a summit hosted by a non-ASEAN country to

mark a milestone anniversary of the establishment of relations between
ASEAN and the host country. The host country invites the heads of
government of ASEAN member countries to discuss future cooperation and
partnership.
 6

Meeting Host Location Date Note

To celebrate the 30th anniversary

of the establishment of relations
ASEAN –
11, 12 between ASEAN and Japan. The
Japan
Japan Tokyo December summit was also notable as the
Commemora
2003 first ASEAN summit held between
tive Summit
ASEAN and a non-ASEAN country
outside the region.

ASEAN –
30, 31 To celebrate the 15th anniversary
China
China Nanning October of the establishment of relations
Commemora
2006 between ASEAN and China
tive Summit

ASEAN –
To celebrate the 20th anniversary
Republic of
South 1, 2 June of the establishment of relations
Korea Jeju-do
Korea 2009 between ASEAN and Republic of
Commemora
Korea
tive Summit

1.4.4. Regional Forum

The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is a formal, official, multilateral dialogue

in Asia Pacific region. As of July 2007, it is consisted of 27 participants. ARF
objectives are to foster dialogue and consultation, and promote confidence-
building and preventive diplomacy in the region. The ARF met for the first
time in 1994. The current participants in the ARF are as follows: all the
ASEAN members, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, the People's Republic of
China, the European Union, India, Japan, North Korea, South
Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Timor-
Leste, United States and Sri Lanka. The Republic of China (also known as
Taiwan) has been excluded since the establishment of the ARF, and issues
regarding the Taiwan Strait are neither discussed at the ARF meetings nor
stated in the ARF Chairman's Statements.

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 are attended by Ministers, instead of heads of
government.

1.4.6. Another Three

The ASEAN Plus Three is a meeting between ASEAN, China, Japan, and
South Korea, and is primarily held during each ASEAN Summit.

1.4.6.1. Asia-Europe Meeting

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an informal dialogue process initiated in

1996 with the intention of strengthening cooperation between the countries
of Europe and Asia, especially members of the European Union and ASEAN
in particular. ASEAN, represented by its Secretariat, is one of the 45 ASEM
partners. It also appoints a representative to sit on the governing board
of Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), a socio-cultural organisation associated
with the Meeting.

1.4.6.2. ASEAN-Russia Summit

The ASEAN-Russia Summit is an annual meeting between leaders of

member states and the President of Russia.

1.5. AREAS OF ACTIVITY

ASEAN has emphasised regional cooperation in the “three pillars” of security,
sociocultural and economic integration. The regional grouping has made the
most progress in economic integration, aiming to create an ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC) by 2015.

1.5.1. Free Trade Area

The foundation of the AEC is the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), a common
external preferential tariff scheme to promote the free flow of goods within
ASEAN. The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) is an agreement by the member
nations of ASEAN concerning local manufacturing in all ASEAN countries.
The AFTA agreement was signed on 28 January 1992 in Singapore. When
the AFTA agreement was originally signed, ASEAN had six members,
namely, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and
Thailand. Vietnam joined in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and
Cambodia in 1999. The latecomers have not fully met the AFTA's
obligations, but they are officially considered part of the AFTA as they were
required to sign the agreement upon entry into ASEAN, and were given
longer time frames in which to meet AFTA's tariff reduction obligations.

1.5.2. Comprehensive Investment Area

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

• National treatment is granted immediately to ASEAN investors with

few exclusions

• Elimination of investment impediments

• Streamlining of investment process and procedures

• Enhancing transparency

• Undertaking investment facilitation measures

8
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.

1.5.3. Trade in Services

An ASEAN Framework Agreement on Trade in Services was adopted at the
ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in December 1995. Under AFAS, ASEAN Member
States enter into successive rounds of negotiations to liberalise trade in
services with the aim of submitting increasingly higher levels of
commitments. The negotiations result in commitments that are set forth in
schedules of specific commitments annexed to the Framework Agreement.
These schedules are often referred to as packages of services
commitments. At present, ASEAN has concluded seven packages of
commitments under AFAS.

1.5.4. Single Aviation Market

The ASEAN Single Aviation Market (SAM), proposed by the ASEAN Air
Transport Working Group, supported by the ASEAN Senior Transport
Officials Meeting, and endorsed by the ASEAN Transport Ministers, will
introduce an open-sky arrangement to the region by 2015. The ASEAN SAM
will be expected to fully liberalise air travel between its member states,
allowing ASEAN to directly benefit from the growth in air travel around the
world, and also freeing up tourism, trade, investment and services flows
between member states. Beginning 1 December 2008, restrictions on the
third and fourth freedoms of the air between capital cities of member states
for air passengers services will be removed, while from 1 January 2009,
there will be full liberalisation of air freight services in the region, while by 1
January 2011, there will be liberalisation of fifth freedom traffic rights
between all capital cities.

1.5.5. Free Trade Agreements With Other Countries

ASEAN has concluded free trade agreements with PR China, Korea, Japan,
Australia, New Zealand and most recently India. The agreement
with People's Republic of China created the ASEAN–China Free Trade
Area (ACFTA), which went into full effect on January 1, 2010. In addition,
ASEAN is currently negotiating a free trade agreement with the European
Union. Republic of China (Taiwan) has also expressed interest in an
agreement with ASEAN but needs to overcome diplomatic objections from
China.

1.5.6. ASEAN six majors

ASEAN six majors refer to the six largest economies in the area with
economies many times larger than the remaining four ASEAN countries. The
six majors are: GDP nominal 2009 based on IMF data (USD million)
 • 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
proposed human rights body to be discussed at a future summit in February
2009. This proposition caused controversy, as the body would not have the
power to impose sanctions or punish countries who violate citizens' rights
and would therefore be limited in effectiveness. The body was established
later in 2009 as the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human
Rights (AICHR).

10

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.

1.6.1. Environment and democracy

At the turn of the 21st century, issues shifted to involve a more
environmental perspective. The organisation started to discuss
environmental agreements. These included the signing of the ASEAN
Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution in 2002 as an attempt to
control haze pollution in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, this was
unsuccessful due to the outbreaks of the 2005 Malaysian haze and the 2006
Southeast Asian haze. Other environmental treaties introduced by the
organisation include the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy
Security, the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) in
2005, and the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate,
 both of which are responses to the potential effects of climate change.
Climate change is of current interest.

Through the Bali Concord II in 2003, ASEAN has subscribed to the notion
of democratic peace, which means all member countries believe democratic
processes will promote regional peace and stability. Also, the non-
democratic members all agreed that it was something all member states
should aspire to.

In 2006, ASEAN was given observer status at the United Nations General
Assembly. As a response, the organisation awarded the status of "dialogue
partner" to the United Nations. Furthermore, on 23 July that year, José
Ramos-Horta, then Prime Minister of East Timor, signed a formal request for
membership and expected the accession process to last at least five years
before the then-observer state became a full member.

In 2007, ASEAN celebrated its 40th anniversary since its inception, and
30 years of diplomatic relations with the United States. On 26 August 2007,
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.

1.6.2. Cultural activities

 Logo of the S.E.A. Write Award

The organisation hosts cultural activities in an attempt to further integrate

the region. These include sports and educational activities as well as writing
awards. Examples of these include the ASEAN University Network,
the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, the ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and
Technologist Award, and the Singapore-sponsored ASEAN Scholarship.

1.6.3. S.E.A. Write Award

The S.E.A. Write Award is a literary award given to Southeast Asian poets
and writers annually since 1979. The award is either given for a specific
work or as a recognition of an author's lifetime achievement. Works that are
honoured vary and have included poetry, short
stories, novels, plays, folklore as well as scholarly and religious works.
Ceremonies are held in Bangkok and are presided by a member of the Thai
royal family.

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.

1.6.5. Heritage Parks

ASEAN Heritage Parks is a list of nature parks launched 1984 and
relaunched in 2004. It aims to protect the region's natural treasures. There
are now 35 such protected areas, including theTubbataha Reef Marine
Park and the Kinabalu National Park.

12
 List

ASEAN Heritage Sites

Site Country Site Country

Myanma Ao Phang-nga Marine

Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park Thailand
r National Park

Philippin
Apo Natural Park Ba Be National Park Vietnam
es

Bukit Barisan Selatan National Indonesi Gunung Leuser National Indonesi

Park a Park a

Gunung Mulu National Park Malaysia Ha Long Bay Vietnam

Philippin
Hoang Lien Sa Pa National Park Vietnam Iglit-Baco National Park
es

Myanma Inlé Lake Wildlife Myanma

Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary
r Sanctuary r

Kerinci Seblat National Indonesi

Kaeng Krachan National Park Thailand
Park a

Myanma
Khakaborazi National Park Khao Yai National Park Thailand
r

Indonesi
Kinabalu National Park Malaysia Komodo National Park
a

Lampi Kyun Wildlife Myanma

Kon Ka Kinh National Park Vietnam
Reserve r

Indonesi Meinmhala Kyun Wildlife Myanma

Lorentz National Park
a Sanctuary r

Mu Ko Surin-Mu Ko
Thailand Nam Ha Protected Area Laos
Similan Marine National Park

Preah Monivong (Bokor) Cambodi

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Vietnam
National Park a

Puerto Princesa Subterranean Philippin Sungei Buloh Wetland Singapor

River National Park es Reserve e

Taman Negara National Park Malaysia Tarutao Marine National Thailand

 Park

13

Tasek Merimbun Wildlife Thung Yai-Huay Kha Khaeng Thailan

Brunei
Sanctuary National Park d

Tubbataha Reef Marine Philippin Indones

Ujung Kulon National Park
Park es ia

Cambodi Indones
Virachey National Park Keraton Yogyakarta
a ia

1.6.6. Scholarship
The ASEAN Scholarship is a scholarship program offered by Singapore to
the 9 other member states for secondary school, junior college, and
university education. It covers accommodation, food, medical benefits &
accident insurance, school fees, and examination fees.

1.6.7. University Network

The ASEAN University Network (AUN) is a consortium of Southeast
Asian universities. It was originally founded in November 1995 by 11
universities within the member states. Currently AUN comprises 21
Participating Universities.

1.6.8. Official song

• 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
ASEAN Para Games

Logo of the ASEAN Para Games

The ASEAN Para Games is a biennial multi-sport event held after every
Southeast Asian Games for athletes with physical disabilities. The games
are participated by the 11 countries located in Southeast Asia. The
Games, patterned after the Paralympic Games, are played by physically
challenged athletes with mobility disabilities, visual disabilities, who
are amputees and those with cerebral palsy.

FESPIC Games/ Asian Para Games

The FESPIC Games, also known as the Far East and South Pacific Games
for the persons with disability, was the biggest multi-sports games in
Asia and South Pacific region. The FESPIC Games were held nine times
and bowed out, a success in December 2006 in the 9th FESPIC Games in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Games re-emerges as the 2010 Asian Para
Games in Guangzhou, China. The 2010 Asian Para Games will debut
shortly after the conclusion of the 16th Asian Games, using the same
facilities and venue made disability-accessible. The inaugural Asian Para
Games, the parallel event for athletes with physical disabilities, is
a multi-sport event held every four years after every Asian Games.

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. South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation(SAARC)

2.1. INTRODUCTION
The world today is at a turning point. The changes that we are undergoing are
global in scope, revolutionary, fundamental and structural in content. As we have
entered the 21st century a sense of optimism prevails for attaining peace and
prosperity through effective role-play of regional as well as global organizations.

Many view Asia as having a variety of characteristics in common with Europe of

the nineteenth century: underdeveloped international institutions, mixed
domestic orders, rising nationalism, high but differential growth rates, and bitter,
emotional rivalries between insecure neighbours. The success of states in
today’s world is not so much measured in terms of capacity for defending
borders or creating uniquely national institutions, but in terms of ability to adapt
to regional and global trends, promote exports, attract investments, and skilled
labour, provide a beneficial environment for transnational companies, build
attractive institutions of research and higher learning, wield political influence on
the regional and global scene, and also brand the nation culturally in the
international market-place.

Consequently, regional associations are fast becoming an important and

effective new scene for political and economic interaction in the world. In this
new environment the importance of regional community and functional
groupings has been heightened. Regional, political and religious blocs of nations
now provide platforms for a number of countries to exercise influence in global
affairs. Interest in greater regional economic integration, fuelled partly by the
achievement of an economic union and a single currency in Europe, has grown in
different parts of the world. This includes South Asia and the regional
organization known as South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC), which has announced the goal of attaining an economic union and
expressed the desire for a common currency. SAARC is a fairly recent
association, established in 1985 by the seven member states of Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. These seven countries
differ greatly in land area, GDP, and population, although they have similar levels
of human and economic development. They also share the unusual feature of
having a common border with one another member country. The objective of
this paper is to present some preliminary information relevant to the pattern and
process of regional economic integration in the member states under SAARC in
the region. Today world is divided into two major categories. The states whose
influence goes beyond a particular region — the world powers — and those
whose influence is confined to a particular region — the regional powers.
2.2. OBJECTIVE
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) comprising
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is a
dynamic institutionalized regional cooperation in South Asia, basically perceived
as an economic grouping to work together for accelerating the pace of socio-
economic and cultural development. The objectives of the association as defined
in the

16

SAARC Charter are:

• To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of

South Asia;

• To contribute to develop mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one

another’s problem;

• To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social,

cultural, technical and scientific fields;

• To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries;

• To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on

matters of common interest; and

• To cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims

and purposes.

Cooperation in the SAARC is based on respect for the principles of sovereign

equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in internal
affairs of the member states and mutual benefit. Regional cooperation is seen as
a complement to the bilateral and multilateral relations of SAARC members.
Decisions are taken on the basis of unanimity. Bilateral and contentious issues
are excluded from the deliberations of SAARC. Though economic cooperation
among South Asian nations was not a new phenomenon yet the quest for
economic integration remained inhibited by the colonial heritage of these
countries. Since 1985, SAARC has evolved slowly but continuously both in terms
of institutions and programmes. However, it is true that most of the programmes
and achievements of SAARC exist on paper. The much talked about SAARC Food
Security Reserve could not be utilized to meet the needs of Bangladesh during
its worst natural disaster in 1991. It is also true that most SAARC activities are
confined to the holding of seminars, workshops, and short training programmes.
These activities may be useful, but they do not address priority areas and lack
visibility and regional focus so essential for evolving a South Asian identity. Most
importantly, SAARC suffers from an acute resource crunch. Unless the
organization is successful in mobilizing funds and technical know-how from
outside sources, most of its projects cannot be implemented and, thus, its
relevance will remain limited.
2.3. HISTORY
The evolution passed through four phases that include:

1. Conception (1977-80)

2. The Meeting of Foreign Secretaries (1981-83)

3. The Meeting of Foreign Ministers (1983-85)

4. 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

have been working on the idea of an ASEAN-like organization in South Asia.

During his visit to India in December 1977, Ziaur Rahman discussed the issue of
regional cooperation with the new Indian Prime Minister, Morarji Desai. In the
inaugural speech to the Colombo Plan Consultative Committee which met in
Kathmandu in December 1977, King Birendra of Nepal gave a call for close
regional cooperation among South Asian countries in sharing river waters.
President Ziaur Rahman welcomed the King’s call during the former’s visit to
Bangladesh in January 1978. President Ziaur Rahman had also informally
discussed the idea of regional cooperation with the leaders of South Asian
countries during the Commonwealth Summit in Lusaka (1979) and the Non-
Aligned Summit in Havana (1979). However, the Bangladesh president seems to
have given a concrete shape to the proposal after his visit to Sri Lanka and
discussion with the Sri Lankan president, J.R. Jayawardene, in November 1979.
Several factors seem to have influenced President Ziaur Rahman’s thinking
about establishing a regional organization in South Asia during 1975-1979:

1. Change in the political leadership in South Asian countries and

demonstration of accommodative diplomacy by the new leaders;

2. Ziaur Rahman’s need for Indian support to legitimize his coup d’état regime;

3. An acute balance of payment crisis of almost all South Asian countries which
was further aggravated by the second oil crisis in 1979;

4. Failure of the North-South dialogues, and increasing protectionism by the

developed countries;
5. Publication of an extremely useful background report by the Committee on
Studies for Cooperation in Development in South Asia (CSCD), identifying
many feasible areas of cooperation;

6. Assurance of economic assistance for multilateral cooperative projects on

sharing water resources of the Ganga and Brahmaputra by United States
President Jimmy Carter and British Prime Minister James Callaghan during
their visit to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in January 1978; and

7. The Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan in late December 1979 and the
resulting rapid deterioration of South Asian security situation.

During this critical period, President Ziaur Rahman’s initiative for establishing a
regional organization which would give the leaders of South Asian countries an
opportunity to improve their understanding of one another’s 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. India’s main
concern was the proposal’s reference to the security matters in South Asia.
Indian policy-makers also feared that Ziaur Rahman’s 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 India’s 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 India’s
and Pakistan’s concerns, dropped all references to security matters

18

and suggested only non-political and non-controversial areas for cooperation.

Between 1980 and 1983, four meetings at the foreign secretary level (April 21-
23, 1981, Colombo; November 2-4, 1981, Kathmandu; August 7-8, 1982,
Islamabad; March 28-30, 1983, Dhaka) took place to establish the principles of
organization and identify areas for cooperation. After three years of preparatory
discussions at the official level, the focus of discussion shifted to the political
level in 1983. The first South Asian foreign ministers’ conference was held in New
Delhi from August 1-3, 1983, where the Integrated Programme of Action (IPA) on
mutually agreed areas of cooperation (i.e., agriculture, rural development,
telecommunications, meteorology, health and population control, transport,
sports, arts and culture, postal services and scientific and technical cooperation)
was launched. The foreign ministers at this conference also adopted a
Declaration on Regional Cooperation, formally beginning an organization known
as South Asian Regional Cooperation (SARC). Following the New Delhi meeting,
three more meetings of the foreign ministers were held at Male (July 10-11,
1984), Thimpu (May 13-14, 1985), and Dhaka (December 5, 1985) to finalize
details and determine a date and place for the first meeting of South Asian heads
of state. At the Dhaka foreign ministers’ meeting, a decision was taken to
change the name of the organization from South Asian Regional Cooperation
(SARC) to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The change
in the acronym was based on the thinking that while SARC refers to the process
of South Asian Regional Cooperation, SAARC marks the establishment of an
association (organization) to promote and develop such cooperation. Finally, the
first summit meeting of the heads of state or government of South Asian
countries was held at Dhaka from December 7-8, 1985.

2.3.1. Salient Features of the Organization Secretariat

The SAARC Secretariat is based in Kathmandu. It coordinates and monitors
implementation of activities, prepares for and services meetings, and
serves as a channel of communication between the Association and its
member states as well as other regional organizations. The Secretary
General, who is appointed by the Council of Ministers from member
countries in alphabetical order for a three-year term, heads the Secretariat.
Mr. Q.A.M.A. Rahim from Bangladesh is the current Secretary General. The
previous Secretaries Generals were from Bangladesh, India, Maldives,
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The next Secretary General is to be from
Bhutan. Seven Directors on deputation from member states assist the
Secretary General. The SAARC Secretariat and member states observe 8
December as the SAARC Charter Day.

2.3.2. SAARC Regional Centres

Regional Centres covering Agriculture, Tuberculosis, Documentation,
Meteorological Research, and Human Resource Development have been
established in different SAARC capitals: SAIC (Dhaka, 1998) STC
(Kathmandu, 1992) SDC (New Delhi, 1994) SMRC (Dhaka, 1995) SHRDC
(Islamabad, 1999) SCC (Kandy, 2004) SCZMC (Malé, 2004) and SIC
(Kathmandu, 2004). In addition, three new regional centres covering
Culture, Coastal Zones Management, and Information are being established.

19

2.4. SUMMITS
• Summits which are the highest authority in SAARC, are supposed to be
held annually.

• The country hosting the Summit also holds the Chair of the Association.
 • Bangladesh hosted the Thirteenth Summit in November 2005 at Dhaka as
the Chairperson of the Association.

• The Council of Ministers comprising Foreign Ministers, meets at least twice

a year.

South Asia’s regional cooperation, international political and economic

environment, poverty alleviation, advancing economic cooperation, funding
mechanisms, security of small states, combating, terrorism, social, natural
disasters and environmental challenges as an agenda for third decade of SAARC
were discussed in the Thirteenth Summit. Enhancing people-to-people contact
and cultural cooperation, political cooperation and external linkages of SAARC
was also discussed. SAARC member states welcomed the request by the Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan for membership and invited Afghanistan as a member,
subject to the completion of formalities. SAARC member states also agreed in
principle with the desire of the People’s 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 well-
being 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 Children’s 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. AREAS OF ACTIVITY
2.5.1. Agriculture
The first area of cooperation identified for regional cooperation SAARC
Agricultural Information Centre (SAIC) was set up in Dhaka in 1988 There is
regular exchange of information and interaction on issues of forestry,
fishery, livestock, vaccines, wheat breeding programs, and training in the
related fields. Regular meeting of counterpart scientists for

21
networking on rice, wheat, oilseeds, horticulture (potato), vegetables and fruits,
fisheries, forestry, transfer of technology, livestock, farm machinery and
implements, post harvest technology, agriculture economics and policies and
soils also takes place. The 1990s have seen the SAARC focus on genetic
engineering and biotechnology for crop and livestock improvement, agricultural
and horticultural development.

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

2.5.3. Education, Culture and Sports

The Social Charter spells out a deep consciousness of the fact that
education is the cutting edge in the struggle against eradicating poverty
and the promotion of development and development of the youth is an
imperative to the resurgence of South Asian consciousness. The State
parties have re-affirmed to provide free education to all between ages 6-14,
investment in vocational training, providing youth access to education
about family planning, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases,
consumption of tobacco, alcohol and drugs. The committee is also engaged
in the improvement and expansion of the SAARC Chairs, Fellowships and
Scholarship Schemes. The SAARC Ministers for Culture approved a SAARC
Agenda for Culture in April 2007; which includes promotion of SAARC
Culture online, production of cultural source materials on South Asia,
establish linkage between culture and other sectors in attaining social and
economic development and promotion of cultural products.

2.5.4. Environment and Meteorology

The TC has commissioned various studies such as “Causes and
Consequences of Natural Disasters and the Protection and Preservation of
the Environment”, “Greenhouse Effects and Its Impact on the Region”, etc.
The Committee has formulated a collective position on climate change,
which was subsequently presented at the Kyoto Conference in December
1997.

2.5.5. Health, Population Activities and Child Welfare

The TC addresses primary health issues and communicable diseases,
sharing of information regarding outbreak of any communicable disease in
the member states, sharing of expertise, etc. The TC believes that
population policies should provide for human centred approach to
population and development and aim towards human survival and well-
being. The TC looks into safeguarding and protection of the child against all
forms of abuse and exploitation, children in conflict, disadvantaged
children, etc, all have been addressed in the Charter for

22
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.

2.5.6. Prevention of Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse

The TC exchanges information, shares national experiences and common
programs so as to strengthen legal systems, financial investigations,
countering criminal conspiracies, frequent meetings at both policy and
operational levels, enhanced control of production and use of licit drugs,
and precursors and their essential chemicals. The SAARC Drug Offences
Monitoring Desk has been established in Colombo to collate, analyse and
disseminate information on drug offences.

2.5.7. Rural Development

The TC carries out exchange of information and literature among member
states on issues relating to rural development, preparation of research
studies on selected topics, exchanging expertise and sharing training
facilities within the region. A Shelter Information Network (SHELTERNET)
has been set up.

2.5.8. Science and Technology

The TC undertakes activities such as Seminars/Workshops/ Meetings of
Experts, Training Programmes, Joint Research Projects, preparation of State-
of-the-Art Reports and compilation of Directories on Food Technology;
Renewable Energy Resources; Pesticides; Cultivation and Processing of
Medicine and Aromatic Plants; Bio-Gas; Mineral Resources Exploration;
Producer Gas; Application of Remote Sensing Techniques; Use of Organic
Fertilisers; Building Material and Housing Technologies.

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
 opening up new areas of productivity, particularly with the
operationalisation of SAFTA

23

2.5.11. Women in Development

Specific issues taken up by the TC include, preparation of a Regional Plan of
Action for Women, effective dissemination of technical information relating
to women in development generated by Member States. One of the most
important features of the work of the Technical Committee was designating
1990 as the SAARC Year of the Girl Child and 1991-2000 as the SAARC
Decade of the Girl Child. An appraisal of the situation of Girl Children in
Especially Difficult Circumstances (GCEDC) was also carried out in
December 1996 where key common issues and concerns of SAARC Member
States were identified. A Regional Convention on Combating the Crime of
Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution has also been discussed.

2.6. ACHIEVEMENTS
Several factors such as political, economic, security and potentiality of mutual
economic benefit through regionalism seem to have influenced President Ziaur
Rahman’s thinking about establishing a regional organization in South Asia.
SAARC’s 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 Asia’s 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 India’s 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-à-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