SAARC standing committee meeting concludes

New Delhi, Apr 1 (UNI) The SAARC Foreign Secretaries today 'almost' finalised the text of the inter-governmental agreement on South Asia University while India quadrupled the contribution to Rs 100 million for upgradation of facilities at the SAARC secretariat.

The 33rd meeting of the Standing Committee of SAARC Foreign Secretaries which concluded here today, also stressed the importance of operationlising the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) ''as soon as possible'' specially its social window to remove poverty in SAARC countries.

Other member countries also pledged to increase their contribution, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said while briefing reporters.

India also recommended that strong measures be taken against terrorism and see what further action could taken against the scourge, the Foreign Secretary said.

He, however, did not go into the details saying the fight against terrorism was an ongoing process and the issue would be discussed at the Foreign Ministers' meeting tomorrow as well as the Summit on April 3-4.

UNI