SAARC leaders pledge to root out terror; promote eco coop

New Delhi, Apr 3: Endorsing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's call to root out terrorism, leaders of the SAARC nations today vowed to take 'bold and effective' steps to tackle the menace and work for speedy economic development of the region by promoting cooperation in energy, infrastructure and other vital areas.

Addressing the two-day 14th SAARC Summit, which opened at the majestic Vigyan Bhavan this morning, the leaders from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives who were joined by Afghan President Hamid Karzai also announced far-reaching measures to give an impetus to regional trade, including connectivity and services.

At the outset, the leaders of the SAARC nations signed a joint declaration, admitting Afghanistan as the eighth member of the regional grouping.

Mr Karzai, wearing the traditional green cape and 'karakul' (fur cap) was warmly welcomed by all the SAARC leaders seated on the dais. The Afghan President later walked up to Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and hugged him.

The United States, China, Japan, South Korea and the European Union (EU) also participated in the Summit as observers. This is the first time the grouping has allowed observers to attend the SAARC summit.

Thereafter, the Indian Prime Minister assumed the chairmanship of the association from Bangladesh chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, whose country hosted the last summit.

The other leaders attending the summit were Nepal Prime Minister G P Koirala, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, Maldives President M A Gayoom and Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonpo Khandu.

Dr Singh made an impassioned plea to SAARC nations to root out terrorism and announced far-reaching measures to promote regional trade, including opening up of Indian markets by allowing zero duty access by the end of this year to the least developed members of the regional grouping.

A ''primary requirement for the fulfillment of our vision of prosperity and cooperation in South Asia is peace. We should therefore implement in a meaningful and sincere manner the commitments and pledges to root out terrorism so as to create the atmosphere in which our endeavours can succeed,'' Dr Singh said in his inaugural address.

Announcing that India would open up its markets to its neighbours without insisting on reciprocity, the Prime Minister said zero-duty access would be allowed before the end of this year to the least developed countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives.

He also called for implementation of the South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement for the success of the ongoing process of building an open and integrated market from the Himalayas to the Pacirif, covering a vast and dynamic economic region.

Dr Singh proposed that SAARC nations link their capitals through direct flights to promote connectivity, another main focus of the two-day summit.

Further, the dream of full regional connectivity would not be realised merely by building roads and railways. SAARC must commit to actually making the travel freer and easier.

''As an immediate step, India is announcing a unilateral liberalisation of visas for students, teachers, professors, journalists and patients from SAARC. Let us aim to double the intra-SAARC flow of tourists in the next five years,'' the Prime Minister said.

In a clear attempt to highlight his country's sharp differences with New Delhi on critical issues, the Pakistan Prime Minister regretted that the political environment in South Asia had remained vitiated by disputes and mistrust and called upon the SAARC nations to promote an environment of genuine peace and security in the region.

''The reason why we have been slow in catching up with other regional organisations is evident. The political environment in South Asia has remained vitiated by disputes and mistrust. We have remained mired in conflict management. The consequent drain on our energies has held us back from achieving the goals that we have set for ourselves in the SAARC Charter,'' he said, addressing the summit.

Mr Aziz said since there was clearly a direct correlation between security and development, the SAARC nations ought to resolve differences and disputes within and between them through dialogue and compromise. However, he avoided making any reference to outstanding issues between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Emphasising that SAARC countries must first build trust and confidence, he said there was need for removing the obstacle of the trust deficit which had hampered meaningful cooperation in the region.

Japan announced the launch of a new international initiative aimed at creating an 'Arc of Freedom and Prosperity', with South Asia as the central pillar, to promote democratization, growth and connectivity among countries. ''The outer rim of the Eurasian Continent has seen historic transitions in many Countries. A new frontier, or an arc, has emerged. It is a growth region, more stable than ever, committed to universal values. South Asia indeed makes a central pillar in the Arc,'' Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said.

Mr Aso pledged that throughout the transitions, Japan will be 'their running mate.'' Sri Lanka appealed to the SAARC forum to work jointly on a counter-terrorism strategy for the entire region and implement the provisions of the international agreements on terrorism-related matters with sincerity and dedication.

''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,'' Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse 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.

Afghanistan called upon SAARC member countries to unitedly fight against terrorism and check all political and financial assistance to terrorists and extremists.

Mr Hamid Karzai, in his maiden address at the 14th SAARC Summit here, said it was the common duty of all member countries to fight terrorism and stop its sources including financial and political support.

Highlighting the political turmoil that his country had undergone during the decades of civil war, Mr Karzai said a peaceful Afghanistan could prove a strong asset for regional development through infrastructure development.

Bangladesh urged the SAARC grouping to take bold steps to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and build a South Asia free from the chains of poverty and hunger.

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed also called for lowering of tariffs in the telephony sector, uniform fee for all SAARC tourists at heritage and archaeological sites, and immediate collective action for the conservation and utilisation of ''our shared environment''.

He also proposed a more elaborate SAARC scholarship programme for the youths in ICT and bio-sciences in which India would play a leading role.

Earlier, all the eight leaders flagged off the SAARC car rally, which had started from Cox's Bazaar in Bangladesh on March 15 and reached here after covering Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan. It would now proceed to Sri Lanka and conclude in the Maldives on April 14.

Bhutan called for strengthening efforts towards eradicating terrorism, implementing SAFTA and putting in place effective mechanisms to check trafficking of drugs and women and children.

Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk said terrorism, drug trafficking and HIV(AIDS) must be addressed through a ''well-coordinated regional approach.'' Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala called.

UNI