Professional Documents
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a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding and also to create an order based
on “mutual respect, equity and shared benefits. The main goal of the
the member states through joint action in the agreed areas of cooperation.1The
was itself a clear indication of the priority and functions assigned to it.
NEED OF AN ORGANISATION/ASSOCIATION
elaborate structural set up. The reason was that they are supposed to perform
diverse, yet specialized functions for member nations. The nature of relations
among nations is fast changing. Today, it has become far more complex
defence – security, commerce and culture etc. Therefore, for any meaningful
The earlier initiatives for regional cooperation in Asia and Africa were
failed because of many reasons. One of the important reason was absence of
personal, irrational and emotional elements from official business”4 for the
there was need for an organization which imparts meaning, purpose and
direction by –
Combining its personnel with its resources, weaving together
its leaders, experts, workers, machines and raw materials….
Continually evaluates performance and tries to adjust itself in
order to achieve its goals.5
3 Indra Mohan Jha, SAARC The Road Ahead A Case for Constructive Diplomacy, National Book
Organization 2004, p. 100.
4 Ibid p. 100, see also H.H. Gerth and C. Wright Mills, Essay in Sociology, Routledge and
Kegan Paul, London, 1952, pp. 214-16
5 Amitai Etzioni, Modern Organizations, Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi, 1986, p. 1.
33
(political will), division of labour, coordination and control etc. This is widely
Institutional Framework
decisions and further, to carry them out through the standing Committee. The
standing Committee is thus the important executive agency for the decisions
taken by the council of Ministers and the Summit. There is also a programme
CHARTER OF SAARC
have been the major areas of emphasis of the SAARC with an undertone of
political and security concerns. The basic driving force behind the SAARC
establishment of the SAARC was the desire of the seen contracting states for
promoting peace, stability, amity and progress in the region through strict
SAARC Charter also announces that, the states of South Asia are conscious
freedom, social justice and economic prosperity are best achieved in this
OBJETIVES (ARTICLE I)
Association are :
a) to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their
quality of life;
of South Asia;
another’s problems;
affairs of other states and mutual benefits. Moreover, it states that, such
multilateral obligations.11
Here, one thing is noticeable and i.e. the absence of the principle of
11 Article II of Charter of the SAARC, SARRC Secretariat, Kathmandu, 1985, pp. 5-6.
36
Paper).12
SAARC in 1983 with addition of the summit of the Heads of the States. The
SAARC has a four tier institutional set-up including the Summits (Article
The highest authority of the SAARC rests with the heads of the states
or governments. Being at the apex level, the summit meetings of the heads of
the states usually takes place once in a year. However, there was a proposal to
hold the summit once in two years in the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in
Thimpu in May 1985.13 But Article III of the Charter has finally approve that
“the heads of state or government shall meet once a year or more often as and
meetings of the Head of States list in the fact that they reinforce the bonds of
also give the member states chances for informal discussions on the matters,
Fourteen SAARC summits has been held till 2007. The important
declarations and details of the SAARC summits are given in the following
figure :-
200714
14 a) Pankaj Bhan, R.N. Srivastava, SAARC – Evolutionary Cycle of Growth and Consolidation,
in SAARC Socio-Economic Transformation Foundation for peace and sustainable
development, D.K. Fine Art Press Pvt. Ltd, Delhi, 2008, pp. 33-41, (b) Syed Ali Mujtaba,
Sounding on South Asia, New Dawn Press, Delhi 2005, pp. 207-210, (c) Pramod Kumar
Mishra, South Asia; Conflicts and Cooperation, Kalinga Publications Delhi, 1997, pp. 209-
223, (d) Suman Sharma, India and SAARC, Gyan Publishing House, New Delhi, 2002 pp. 87-
105, (e) World Focus May 2008, Indo Centric Foreign Affairs Monthly Journal, pp. 177, 181,
190 191, 193, 204, 205 (f) Prakash Candra, Comparative Politics and International Relations,
Cosmos Bookhiv (Pvt.) Ltd. New Delhi, 2005, pp. 461-468.
38
Though Article III of SAARC Charter says that the Heads of State or
genesis, only 15 summits has been held till now. The reason was the
abortive terrorist coup in the Maldives and the presence of IPKF (Indian
The Summits of 1992, 1994, 1996 were also postponed. The Kargil
summit between India and Pakistan on 14th July 2001 and terror attack on the
There was no summit in year 2006 as it has been postponed twice, once in
view of Tsunami (Dec. 2004) and again in the context of India’s reluctances
region.16
Council of Ministers. It is the most important organ of the SAARC from the
general interest to the Association. The Council normally meets twice a year
states.17.
priorities, mobilizing regional and external resources and identifying the new
practice it meets normally twice a year and submits it reports to the Council
of Ministers.18
year’s activities and take up any other matter assigned to it by the standing
the reports of the Technical Committees and the SAARC Regional Centres
alphabetical order every two year. Technical committees are the primary
the Groups of Eminent persons (GEP) set up by the Ninth Summit realized
the importance of these committees. They had reviewed the functioning of the
1. Agriculture
SYVOP).
9. Tourism
10. Transport
March 1999 decided that from 1 January 2000 there should be only seven
1. Agriculture
4. Social Development
7. Energy
Committee. They will held their annual meetings at the Secretariat unless a
meetings.23
The period of five years between the time when General Zia-ur-Rahman
made his proposal and the first summit eventually took place was spent in
much careful preparatory work at the level of high officials and later the
met formally in April 1981 at Colombo to prepare for a meeting at the level
of Foreign Ministers of the seven countries. This meeting held at New Delhi
(IPA).24 Initially there were five agreed areas of cooperation. These were :
1. Agriculture – Bangladesh
3. Telecommunication - Pakistan
4. Meteorology – India
This programme got under way even before the first Summit met at
two countries. However such Action Committees could be set up only with
meanwhile the newly elected SAARC Chairman Lt. Gen. H.M. Ershad
technical expertise.
SECRETARY GENERAL
upon the nomination by a member-state on the basis of two years. The 9th
SAARC Summit at Male, 1997 decided that, henceforth the tenure of the
1987, when the Secretariat was inaugurated. The Secretary General is assisted
nominated by each country. They have the rank of a Councellor and hold
office for a term of three years, which may be extended to one full term by
Technical Committees were expected to keep the following points in mind :33
workshops and training and other programmes may be met by the host
2) The cost of subsistence for the experts shall be met by the receiving
countries and cost of travel and/or salary of the experts may be paid for
Committee the modalities for meeting the cost. The cost of the projects
Committee.
34 Article X, clause II of Charter of the SAARC, SAARC Secretariate, Kathmandu, 1985, p. 13.
49
the very first meeting of Foreign Secretaries it was agreed that “bilateral and
suspicious about the role of its neighbours. It thought that SAARC might be
Agenda.
Thus the political and conflicting bilateral issues were excluded from
that are crucial for tackling the problems of peace, stability, economic and
social progress, includes only low political issues’ to be covered under the
areas and focusing n the on-contentious issues would pave the way for mutual
understanding and ultimately lead to ease tension.37 Apart from this there are
certain other bodies which are important parts of the SAARC organization.
These are :
oneness in loss and gains, and reduces possibilities of political conflict. This
countries.38
of Ministers at its Ninth Session in Male in July 1991 endorsed the study and
process.39
Over ten years, the CEC has emerged as the central group within
and investment. The mandate of CEC covers areas ranging from quality
39 O.P. Goel, India and SAARC Engagements, Vol. I, Chawla Offset Press, Delhi, 2004.
52
rules of origin, and the transition from the SAARC preferential trading
Arrangement (SAPTA) to the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA). The
to higher SAARC bodies, namely the Council of Ministers and the summit.
(SAPTA) was signed on 11 April 1993 during the Seventh SARC summit. It
into force on 7th December 1995. So far four rounds of trade negotiations
were concluded under SAPTA covering over 5500 commodities. Each round
the concessions they have extended in the Fourth Round. The Meeting
recommended that till such time as the South Asian Free Trade (SAFTA) is
given effect to, the process of trade negotiations under SAPTA may be
continued for further trade liberalization in the region. The basic principles
equitably all contracting states, taking into account their respective level
and
Delhi with total elimination of all tariff and non-tariff barriers by 2005. All
member countries of SAARC show the keen interest in the Ninth SAARC
summit held in Male during May 1997. Advanced the deadline for the
area within the region and bearing in mind the need to fix realistic and
achievable targets.
54
REGIONAL CENTRES41
of the centre.
comprises the Central facility i.e. SDC and its sub-units in Member
States which act as the centre’ repositories. In fulfilling the need for
41 R.S. Kher, SAARC – Political and Economic Aspects, Dominant Publishers and Distributors,
Delhi, 2004, pp. 69-74.
55
REGIONAL CONVENTIONS/AGREEMENTS42
Agreement, which came into force on 12 August, 1988, provides for a reserve
November 1987. It came into force on 22nd August 1988. The convention
international law in this respect. Under its provisions, member states are
from enjoying safe havens. The SAARC Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk
legislative regimes, the convention envisages the widest measures for mutual
convention will enter into force upon ratification by all Member States.
responsibilities. The convention will enter into force upon ratification by all
Member states.
VARIOUS FUNDS43
South Asian Development Fund (SADF) was mooted at the Sixth SAARC
the development of South Asia. The basic objective to establish SADF was to
established in 1996 with the merger of the two earlier SAARC funds namely
SAARC Fund for Regional Projects (SFRP) and SARC Regional Fund
The fund has since provided finance for conducting feasibility studies
SAARC – Japan Special Fund : The SAARC-Japan special Fund has been
Government of Japan.
PUBLIC CONTACT44
mutual understanding and goodwill among the peoples of South Asia, has
effect to this concept a number of initiatives have been taken under the aegis
of SAARC.
the Council of Ministers at its Third Session (New Delhi, June 1987). It
countries.
45 Ibid. p. 43
61
law and justice for the common people; and development through law;
region.
62
RECOGNIZED BODIES46
(SAARCH)
ideas. It was granted SAARC recognized body status in May 1997. The
brought under its umbrella the leading institutions, both public and
society for the social upliftment in the region. It was granted the SAARC
46 Ibid. p. 44-45.
63
in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are the members of SAFA.
It was granted the status of SAARC Recognized Body in May 1997. Its
has country chapters in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
their Seventh SAARC Summit (Dhaka, April 1993) had welcomed the
64
the Association.
Countries (RSSC), SAARC Surgical care Society (SSCS). And many more
agreements.
1993, UNCTAD has been providing updated copies of its TRAINS to the
monitoring of implementation.
Economic and social commission for Asia and the pacific (ESCAP) was
development, etc.
relevant reports.
coordinate efforts in combating drug trafficking and drug abuse in the region.
the EC in July, 1996, the Secretartiate has been in regular touch with the
development.
at its 13th summit held in Dhaka. Although there are many conflicting
central, as opposed to South Asia, its long border with Pakistan gives it a
of the South Asian region. Afghanistan situated between Central and South
Asia, was not only determined by the old and new great power politics but
search for identity among the West and Central Asian grouping. Moreover,
its involvement within the SAARC orbit can lead to its benefits accrued from
the existing free trade agreement (SAFTA) as well as its chances of better
negotiation over a land route to India via Pakistan and a seaport facility with
48
the later. SAARC expands its wings and gave observer status to the
following countries:
1. Australia
2. China
3. European union
4. Iran
5. Japan
6. Mauritius
7. Myanmar
8. South Korea
decade, and increasing areas of cooperation are being added to the list of the
48
. Tridib Chakrabarti, “SAARC Expands its Wings Insinuations in the new global order”, World
Focus, 341, May 2008.