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Rise above political divide to promote economy

Vajpayee urges at Saarc information ministers' meet

Pallab Bhattacharya, New Delhi
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee called upon South Asian countries to promote economic cooperation despite political differences at the third conference of Saarc information ministers that began in New Delhi yesterday.
Inaugurating the two-day meet, Vajpayee voiced unhappiness that Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) "has been struggling to emerge from the concept to the reality of close regional cooperation" and cautioned that if the seven-nation economic group cannot organise itself, "it will simply miss the boat".
Bangladesh Information Minister Tariqul Islam was the first to speak at the plenary of the conference, also attended by his counterparts from Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Vajpayee recalled the recent Indo-Asean summit in Indonesia where he signed an accord for comprehensive economic cooperation with the region and discussed key initiatives for BIMSTEC. He also pointed to India-European Union summit to be held in Delhi later this month and his current visit to Moscow to talk transport corridor linking India, Iran and Central Asia with Russia.
He said he mentioned all the events to drive home the point that these experiences in regional and sub-regional cooperation "hold a lesson for Saarc".
"Asean is an old example of the triumph of economic cooperation over political differences. We can also see how post-cold war Europe has forgotten its former political divides and accept differential economic development while expanding the European Union," Vajpayee said.
Countering the contention that unequal sizes and economic strengths of Saarc countries came in the way of equal cooperation among them, Vajpayee said "these very factors can be turned to mutual economic advantage by creating inter-linkages which can enhance confidence and trust".
"The collective size of our markets creates economies of scale with obvious impact on costs of production and competitiveness," the Indian premier added.
He referred to India's special trading arrangements with Nepal and Bhutan and said: "With Sri Lanka, we have gone a considerable distance down that road and we are making a beginning with Bangladesh also."
Calling for a free flow of information among Saarc countries, Vajpayee said revolution in communications presents great opportunities to the region in ensuring that populations have free access to all the media platforms so that they stay updated on major political events, economic, cultural and sociological trends.
"The media can be a powerful force for information rather than propaganda, for education rather than prejudice, for awareness rather than misinformation," he said.
He suggested that national TV and radio channels of Saarc member-countries regularly carry regional news programmes.
Vajpayee also proposed that information on developmental programmes and cultural events in individual Saarc countries be aired in all other countries of the region.
Pointing out that technological changes have led to an explosive expansion in media platforms, the Indian prime minister called for using communication technology rather than suppressing them.
He offered Saarc countries 12 seats in Indian training institutions for various media disciplines to boost regional cooperation in information and media.
Referring to the issues the information ministers' conference is expected to take up, Vajpayee hoped it would consider constructively India's suggestion for a model guideline on transnational satellite broadcast in Saarc countries.
But barring Bhutan, no other Saarc countries appears keen to respond to India's suggestion for the guideline, sources said.
The agenda for the model guideline was agreed at the first meeting of Saarc information ministers in Dhaka in May 1998.
The official news agency BSS adds: Tariqul hoped Saarc members would be able to evolve "appropriate means" to promote meaningful cooperation among journalists and media personnel in South Asia.
Tariqul suggested measures ranging from free flow of information to unrestricted cross-border media initiatives to professional training for media persons and ensuring an effective role for the media in promotion of regional cooperation.
"We need to take care in discouraging reports and comments that contain elements of instigation and hostility towards any of our neighbours," he said.
"Our efforts to promote media cooperation in South Asia and improve working conditions for journalists must be matched by efforts to give our society the projection it deserves," he added.