Lanka for joint counter-terrorism strategy, single currency

New Delhi, Apr 3 (UNI) Sri Lanka today appealed to the SAARC forum to work jointly on a counter-terrorism strategy for the entire region and said the regional grouping must become a Union and adopt a single currency to improve trade without barriers.

Addressing the 14th SAARC Summit here, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse said the member nations should implement the provisions of the international agreements on terrorism-related matters with ''zest and enthusiasm.'' ''Terrorism anywhere is terrorism and is a global menace. Unless we act collectively as a region, trans-border terrorist groups will find safe havens in other parts of the region,'' he said.

He said no country could sustain itself and flourish without addressing the need to maintain security, and could afford to limit its resolve to the eradication of terrorism to a mere subset of national security.

''Modern day terrorists operate in a multi-dimensional fashion.

They operate politically, militarily, financially and ideologically,'' he said and called for a multi-pronged strategy to curb the menace, including choking their sources of sustenance.

Drawing the attention of other SAARC members to the recent attack at Katunayake airbase by the LTTE, he said the region as a whole was not safe from the barbaric terrorist groups.

''I wish to appeal, therefore, to this august forum to work jointly on a counter-terrorism strategy for our entire region, to defeat terrorism.'' Reiterating his demand, he said a single currency for the grouping would enhance the productivity of the region and improve trade without barriers.

''I strongly believe that SAARC must become a Union where we will endevour to achieve our political and economic pursuits,'' he said.

He also drew attention to the poverty seriously affecting the SAARC region and the significant disparities in GDP, income levels and natural resources, and urged the forum to adopt a resolution to work with dedication to uplift the quality of life of people in rural areas.

''Undoubtedly, this summit must resolve to improve the indices relating to poverty within the next three years, through positive and fast action,'' he said.

He also stressed the need for implementing the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) within a strict timeframe to make the whole of South Asia one massive region for enhancement of trade.

''We must have a region-centric approach to make SAFTA work in a real sense and give it effective force,'' he said.

Mr Rajapakse ... picking up from para one, line one of DI 16, EXTERNAL-SAARC-LANKA TWO LAST NEW DELHI.

UNI