Climate issue could bring SAARC countries closer

Thimphu (Bhutan), Apr.28 (ANI): Keeping aside regional and bilateral differences, SAARC leaders are working out a "common position" for the forthcoming Cancun climate summit in Mexico.

SAARC leaders are expected to sign the convention on environment.Infact, the 32nd Council of Ministers meeting has discussed in great detail the common areas in which these ecologically sensitive nations could cooperate.

There is a general feeling among the SAARC leaders here that common problems like flooding ,glaciating , overflowing of rivers are the common problems staring the region, which is facing serious climate challenges could be overcome by coordination and collabaration.

Infact, SAARC nations like Bangladesh and the Maldives are iterally open to climate change related disasters

India supports "a fresh SAARC position on Climate Change for COP (Conference of Parties) 16 in accordance with the UNFCCC principles and Bali Action Plan," External Affairs minister S M Krishna said at the SAARC Council of Ministers.

The Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has said that he is looking forward to discussing regional cooperation and strategies for tackling the effects of global warming in the region.

"Ours is a particularly vulnerable region, which demands a coordinated and well thought out response cutting across sectors," he said.

SAARC countries will also be pitching for observer status at the Cancun conference on global warming that would enable them to articulate their collective concerns more effectively. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)