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Saarc members want a meaningful summit

Says Morshed

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan yesterday said all the leaders of the Saarc nations are determined to make the Dhaka summit “successful and meaningful.”
“There is a great understanding among the Saarc leaders and everybody wants to hold the summit. The leaders are convinced that time has come for greater cooperation to resolve the problems of the region,” he said while talking to diplomatic correspondents at his office.
Morshed said the November 12-13 summit is a big challenge for the government and it will not be a truncated one as no substantial programme was cut down. “It will be a full-fledged summit,” he added.
Expressing gratitude to the leaderships of Pakistan and India for agreeing to attend the summit despite the devastating October 8 earthquake that hit the two countries, he said, “We have taken all-out preparation to make the summit a complete success.”
The foreign minister said the 13th summit would greatly focus on how to tackle the future natural disasters jointly and strengthen the early warning system through effective cooperation, among other issues.
Four agreements relating to the expansion of trade and investment in South Asia are likely to be signed during the summit, he added.
On a question about certain disputes that apparently prevent the Saarc negotiators from reaching conclusions on some agreements, he said the Saarc leaders are expected to make directions in the Dhaka meet to take the association forward.
Asked about the major task before Bangladesh as the next chair of Saarc, he said the new Saarc chairperson would spell out the roadmap on how to steer the seven-member forum forward after assuming the chair.
“What we can say at this point of time, Inshallah, you will not be disappointed with the leadership. But all the seven pillars of Saarc will have to work unitedly to fulfil the aspirations of the people in the region,” he said.
On the summit preparation, Morshed said the advisory committee headed by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, national committee and 12 subcommittees are working round-the-clock to make the summit a complete success.
He said the officials of the foreign ministry and other line ministries have no weekly holiday or Eid vacation because of the increased workload due to the summit preparation.
Asked about the advance security teams from India and other countries, he said “We all are working together for doing our best to make the summit successful.”
The foreign minister informed that he has regular contact with his counterparts of the member states and talked to the foreign ministers of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives in last couple of days.