PROJECT REPORT

ON

ASEAN

&

SAARC

Submitted To

Dr. M. C. Harbola

Submitted By

(Group 8)

Akhil Rana

Aryabhatta Gorain

Manav Sharma

Nitin Kumar Gupta

Pratika Chaturvedi

Rupali Sood

INDEX

S. No. Topic Page No

1. ASEAN 1

1.1. Introduction 1

1.2. Objective 1

1.3. History 2

1.4. Meetings 3

1.5. Areas of activity 8

1.6. Achievements 11

2. SAARC 16

2.1. Introduction 16

2.2. Objective 16

2.3. History 17

2.4. Summits 20

2.5. Areas of activity 21

2.6. Achievements 24

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1. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

1.1. INTRODUCTION

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated ASEAN is a geo-political and economic organization of 10 countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

ASEAN spans over an area of 4.46 million km2, 3% of the total land area of Earth, with a population of approximately 600 million people, 8.8% of the world population. In 2010, its combined nominal GDP had grown to USD $1.8 trillion. If ASEAN were a single country, it would rank as the 9th largest economy in the world and the 3rd largest in Asia in terms of nominal GDP.

1.2. OBJECTIVE

As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:

1. To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations;

2. To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter;

3. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields;

4. To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres;

5. To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of their agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of international commodity trade, the improvement of their transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of their peoples;

6. To promote Southeast Asian studies; and7. To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional

organisations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer cooperation among themselves.

Policies

Apart from consultations and consensus, ASEAN’s agenda-setting and decision-making processes can be usefully understood in terms of the so-called Track I and Track II. Track I refers to the practice of diplomacy among government channels. The participants stand as representatives of their respective states and reflect the official positions of their governments during negotiations and

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discussions. All official decisions are made in Track I. Therefore, "Track I refers to inter-governmental processes". Track II differs slightly from Track I, involving civil society groups and other individuals with various links who work alongside governments. This track enables governments to discuss controversial issues and test new ideas without making official statements or binding commitments, and, if necessary, backtrack on positions.

Although Track II dialogues are sometimes cited as examples of the involvement of civil society in regional decision-making process by governments and other second track actors, NGOs have rarely got access to this track, meanwhile participants from the academic community are a dozen think-tanks. However, these think-tanks are, in most cases, very much linked to their respective governments, and dependent on government funding for their academic and policy-relevant activities, and many working in Track II have previous bureaucratic experience. Their recommendations, especially in economic integration, are often closer to ASEAN’s decisions than the rest of civil society’s positions.

The track that acts as a forum for civil society in Southeast Asia is called Track III. Track III participants are generally civil society groups who represent a particular idea or brand. Track III networks claim to represent communities and people who are largely marginalised from political power centres and unable to achieve positive change without outside assistance. This track tries to influence government policies indirectly by lobbying, generating pressure through the media. Third-track actors also organise and/or attend meetings as well as conferences to get access to Track I officials. While Track II meetings and interactions with Track I actors have increased and intensified, rarely has the rest of civil society had the opportunity to interface with Track II. Those with Track I have been even rarer.

Looking at the three tracks, it is clear that until now, ASEAN has been run by government officials who, as far as ASEAN matters are concerned, are accountable only to their governments and not the people. In a lecture on the occasion of ASEAN’s 38th anniversary, the incumbent Indonesian President Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono admitted:

“All the decisions about treaties and free trade areas, about declarations and plans of action, are made by Heads of Government, ministers and senior officials. And the fact that among the masses, there is little knowledge, let alone appreciation, of the large initiatives that ASEAN is taking on their behalf.”

1.3. HISTORY

ASEAN was preceded by an organisation called the Association of Southeast Asia, commonly called ASA, an alliance consisting of the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand that was formed in 1961. The bloc itself, however, was established on 8 August 1967, when foreign ministers of five countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand – met at the Thai Department of Foreign Affairs building in Bangkok and signed the ASEAN Declaration, more commonly known as the Bangkok Declaration. The five foreign ministers – Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso Ramos of the Philippines, Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand – are considered as the organisation's Founding Fathers.

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The motivations for the birth of ASEAN were so that its members’ governing elite could concentrate on nation building, the common fear of communism, reduced faith in or mistrust of external powers in the 1960s, as well as a desire for economic development; not to mention Indonesia’s ambition to become a regional hegemon through regional cooperation and the hope on the part of Malaysia and Singapore to constrain Indonesia and bring it into a more cooperative framework.

In 1976, the Melanesian state of Papua New Guinea was accorded observer status. Throughout the 1970s, the organisation embarked on a program of economic cooperation, following the Bali Summit of 1976. This floundered in the mid-1980s and was only revived around 1991 due to a Thai proposal for a regional free trade area. The bloc then grew when Brunei Darussalam became the sixth member after it joined on 8 January 1984, barely a week after the country became independent on 1 January.

On 28 July 1995, Vietnam became the seventh member. Laos and Myanmar joined two years later in 23 July 1997. Cambodia was to have joined together with Laos and Myanmar, but was deferred due to the country's internal political struggle. The country later joined on 30 April 1999, following the stabilisation of its government.

During the 1990s, the bloc experienced an increase in both membership as well as in the drive for further integration. In 1990, Malaysia proposed the creation of an East Asia Economic Caucus composing the then-members of ASEAN as well as the People's Republic of China, Japan, and South Korea, with the intention of counterbalancing the growing influence of the United States in the Asia -Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) as well as in the Asian region as a whole. This proposal failed, however, because of heavy opposition from the United States and Japan. Despite this failure, member states continued to work for further integration and ASEAN Plus Three was created in 1997.

In 1992, the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) scheme was signed as a schedule for phasing tariffs and as a goal to increase the region’s competitive advantage as a production base geared for the world market. This law would act as the framework for the ASEAN Free Trade Area. After the East Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, a revival of the Malaysian proposal was established in Chiang Mai, known as the Chiang Mai Initiative, which calls for better integration between the economies of ASEAN as well as the ASEAN Plus Three countries (China, Japan, and South Korea).

1.4. MEETINGS1.4.1. ASEAN Summit

The organisation holds meetings, known as the ASEAN Summit, where heads of government of each member meet to discuss and resolve regional issues, as well as to conduct other meetings with other countries outside of the bloc with the intention of promoting external relations.

The ASEAN Leaders' Formal Summit was first held in Bali, Indonesia in 1976. Its third meeting was held in Manila in 1987 and during this meeting, it was decided that the leaders would meet every five years. Consequently, the fourth meeting was held in Singapore in 1992 where the leaders again agreed to meet more frequently, deciding to hold the summit every three

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years. In 2001, it was decided to meet annually to address urgent issues affecting the region. Member nations were assigned to be the summit host in alphabetical order except in the case of Myanmar which dropped its 2006 hosting rights in 2004 due to pressure from the United States and the European Union.

By December 2008, the ASEAN Charter came into force and with it, the ASEAN Summit will be held twice in a year.

The formal summit meets for three days. The usual itinerary is as follows:

Leaders of member states would hold an internal organisation meeting. Leaders of member states would hold a conference together with foreign ministers of the

ASEAN Regional Forum. A meeting, known as ASEAN Plus Three, is set for leaders of three Dialogue Partners

(People's Republic of China, Japan, South Korea) A separate meeting, known as ASEAN-CER, is set for another set of leaders of two

Dialogue Partners (Australia, New Zealand).

ASEAN Formal Summits

Date Country Host

1st 23–24 February 1976 Indonesia Bali

2nd 4–5 August 1977 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur

3rd 14–15 December 1987 Philippines Manila

4th 27‒29 January 1992 Singapore Singapore

5th 14‒15 December 1995 Thailand Bangkok

6th 15‒16 December 1998 Vietnam Hanoi

7th 5‒6 November 2001 Brunei Bandar Seri Begawan

8th 4‒5 November 2002 Cambodia Phnom Penh

9th 7‒8 October 2003 Indonesia Bali

10th 29‒30 November 2004 Laos Vientiane

11th 12‒14 December 2005 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur

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12th 11‒14 January 20071 Philippines Cebu

13th 18‒22 November 2007 Singapore Singapore

14th 27 February - 1 March 200910–11 April 2009

ThailandCha Am, Hua HinPattaya

15th 23 October 2009 Thailand Cha Am, Hua Hin

16th 8–9 April 2010 Vietnam Hanoi

17th 28-31 October 2010 Vietnam Hanoi

18th 2011 Indonesia Manado

During the fifth Summit in Bangkok, the leaders decided to meet "informally" between each formal summit:

ASEAN Informal Summits

Date Country Host

1st 30 November 1996 Indonesia Jakarta

2nd 14‒16 December 1997 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur

3rd 27‒28 November 1999 Philippines Manila

4th 22‒25 November 2000 Singapore Singapore

1.4.2. East Asia Summit

The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a pan-Asian forum held annually by the leaders of 16 countries in East Asia and the region, with ASEAN in a leadership position. The summit has discussed issues including trade, energy and security and the summit has a role in regional community building.

The members of the summit are all 10 members of ASEAN together with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand who combined represent almost half of the world's population. Russia has applied for membership of the summit and in 2005 was a guest for the First EAS at the invitation of the host - Malaysia. The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur on 14 December 2005 and subsequent meetings have been held after the annual ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting.

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Meeting Country Location Date Note

First EAS Malaysia Kuala Lumpur14 December 2005

Russia attended as a guest.

Second EAS

Philippines Cebu City15 January 2007

Rescheduled from 13 December 2006.

Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security

Third EAS Singapore Singapore21 November 2007

Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment[45]

Agreed to establish Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia

Fourth EAS ThailandCha-am and Hua Hin

25 October 2009

The date and location of the venue was rescheduled several times, and then a Summit scheduled for 12 April 2009 at Pattaya, Thailand was cancelled when protesters stormed the venue. The Summit has been rescheduled for October 2009 and transferred again from Phuket to Cha-am and Hua Hin.

Fifth EAS Vietnam Hanoi30 October 2010

Officially invited the US and Russia to participate in future EAS as full-fledged members

1.4.3. Commemorative summit

A commemorative summit is a summit hosted by a non-ASEAN country to mark a milestone anniversary of the establishment of relations between ASEAN and the host country. The host country invites the heads of government of ASEAN member countries to discuss future cooperation and partnership.

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Meeting Host Location Date Note

ASEAN – Japan Commemorative Summit

Japan Tokyo11, 12 December 2003

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of relations between ASEAN and Japan. The summit was also notable as the first ASEAN summit held between ASEAN and a non-ASEAN country outside the region.

ASEAN – China Commemorative Summit

China Nanning30, 31 October 2006

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of relations between ASEAN and China

ASEAN – Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit

South Korea

Jeju-do 1, 2 June 2009To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of relations between ASEAN and Republic of Korea

1.4.4. Regional Forum

The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is a formal, official, multilateral dialogue in Asia Pacific region. As of July 2007, it is consisted of 27 participants. ARF objectives are to foster dialogue and consultation, and promote confidence-building and preventive diplomacy in the region. The ARF met for the first time in 1994. The current participants in the ARF are as follows: all the ASEAN members, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, the People's Republic of China, the European Union, India, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Timor-Leste, United States and Sri Lanka. The Republic of China (also known as Taiwan) has been excluded since the establishment of the ARF, and issues regarding the Taiwan Strait are neither discussed at the ARF meetings nor stated in the ARF Chairman's Statements.

1.4.5. Other meetings

Aside from the ones above, other regular meetings are also held. These include the annual ASEAN Ministerial Meeting as well as other smaller committees, such as the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center. Meetings mostly focus on specific topics, such as defence or the environment, and are attended by Ministers, instead of heads of government.

1.4.6. Another Three

The ASEAN Plus Three is a meeting between ASEAN, China, Japan, and South Korea, and is primarily held during each ASEAN Summit.

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1.4.6.1. Asia-Europe Meeting

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an informal dialogue process initiated in 1996 with the intention of strengthening cooperation between the countries of Europe and Asia, especially members of the European Union and ASEAN in particular. ASEAN, represented by its Secretariat, is one of the 45 ASEM partners. It also appoints a representative to sit on the governing board of Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), a socio-cultural organisation associated with the Meeting.

1.4.6.2. ASEAN-Russia Summit

The ASEAN-Russia Summit is an annual meeting between leaders of member states and the President of Russia.

1.5. AREAS OF ACTIVITY

ASEAN has emphasised regional cooperation in the “three pillars” of security, sociocultural and economic integration. The regional grouping has made the most progress in economic integration, aiming to create an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015.

1.5.1. Free Trade Area

The foundation of the AEC is the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), a common external preferential tariff scheme to promote the free flow of goods within ASEAN. The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) is an agreement by the member nations of ASEAN concerning local manufacturing in all ASEAN countries. The AFTA agreement was signed on 28 January 1992 in Singapore. When the AFTA agreement was originally signed, ASEAN had six members, namely, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Vietnam joined in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999. The latecomers have not fully met the AFTA's obligations, but they are officially considered part of the AFTA as they were required to sign the agreement upon entry into ASEAN, and were given longer time frames in which to meet AFTA's tariff reduction obligations.

1.5.2. Comprehensive Investment Area

The ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Area (ACIA) will encourage the free flow of investment within ASEAN. The main principles of the ACIA are as follows

All industries are to be opened up for investment, with exclusions to be phased out according to schedules

National treatment is granted immediately to ASEAN investors with few exclusions Elimination of investment impediments Streamlining of investment process and procedures Enhancing transparency Undertaking investment facilitation measures

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Full realisation of the ACIA with the removal of temporary exclusion lists in manufacturing agriculture, fisheries, forestry and mining is scheduled by 2010 for most ASEAN members and by 2015 for the CLMV (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam) countries.

1.5.3. Trade in Services

An ASEAN Framework Agreement on Trade in Services was adopted at the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in December 1995. Under AFAS, ASEAN Member States enter into successive rounds of negotiations to liberalise trade in services with the aim of submitting increasingly higher levels of commitments. The negotiations result in commitments that are set forth in schedules of specific commitments annexed to the Framework Agreement. These schedules are often referred to as packages of services commitments. At present, ASEAN has concluded seven packages of commitments under AFAS.

1.5.4. Single Aviation Market

The ASEAN Single Aviation Market (SAM), proposed by the ASEAN Air Transport Working Group, supported by the ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting, and endorsed by the ASEAN Transport Ministers, will introduce an open-sky arrangement to the region by 2015. The ASEAN SAM will be expected to fully liberalise air travel between its member states, allowing ASEAN to directly benefit from the growth in air travel around the world, and also freeing up tourism, trade, investment and services flows between member states. Beginning 1 December 2008, restrictions on the third and fourth freedoms of the air between capital cities of member states for air passengers services will be removed, while from 1 January 2009, there will be full liberalisation of air freight services in the region, while by 1 January 2011, there will be liberalisation of fifth freedom traffic rights between all capital cities.

1.5.5. Free Trade Agreements With Other Countries

ASEAN has concluded free trade agreements with PR China, Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most recently India. The agreement with People's Republic of China created the ASEAN–China Free Trade Area (ACFTA), which went into full effect on January 1, 2010. In addition, ASEAN is currently negotiating a free trade agreement with the European Union. Republic of China (Taiwan) has also expressed interest in an agreement with ASEAN but needs to overcome diplomatic objections from China.

1.5.6. ASEAN six majors

ASEAN six majors refer to the six largest economies in the area with economies many times larger than the remaining four ASEAN countries. The six majors are: GDP nominal 2009 based on IMF data (USD million)

Indonesia: 539,377 Thailand: 263,979 Malaysia: 192,955 Singapore: 182,231

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Philippines : 161,196 Vietnam : 93,164

1.5.7. Charter

On 15 December 2008 the members of ASEAN met in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta to launch a charter, signed in November 2007, with the aim of moving closer to "an EU-style community". The charter turns ASEAN into a legal entity and aims to create a single free-trade area for the region encompassing 500 million people. The fundamental principles include:

1. Respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all ASEAN Member States;

2. Shared commitment and collective responsibility in enhancing regional peace, security and prosperity;

3. Renunciation of aggression and of the threat or use of force or other actions in any manner inconsistent with international law;

4. Reliance on peaceful settlement of disputes;5. Non-interference in the internal affairs of ASEAN Member States;6. Respect for the right of every Member State to lead its national existence free from

external interference, subversion and coercion;7. Enhanced consultations on matters seriously affecting the common interest of ASEAN;8. Adherence to the rule of law, good governance, the principles of democracy and

constitutional government;9. Respect for fundamental freedoms, the promotion and protection of human rights, and

the promotion of social justice;10. Upholding the United Nations Charter and international law, including international

humanitarian law, subscribed to by ASEAN Member States;11. Abstention from participation in any policy or activity, including the use of its territory,

pursued by and ASEAN Member State or non-ASEAN State or any non-State actor, which threatens the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political and economic stability of ASEAN Member States;

12. Respect for the different cultures, languages and religions of the peoples of ASEAN, while emphasising their common values in the spirit of unity in diversity;

13. The centrality of ASEAN in external political, economic, social and cultural relations while remaining actively engaged, outward-looking, inclusive and non-discriminatory; and

14. Adherence to multilateral trade rules and ASEAN's rules-based regimes for effective implementation of economic commitments and progressive reduction towards elimination of all barriers to regional economic integration, in a market-driven economy".

However, the ongoing global financial crisis was stated as being a threat to the goals envisioned by the charter and also set forth the idea of a proposed human rights body to be discussed at a future summit in February 2009. This proposition caused controversy, as the body would not have the power to impose sanctions or punish countries who violate citizens' rights and would therefore be limited in effectiveness. The body was established later in 2009 as the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR).

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1.6. ACHIEVEMENTS

Aside from improving each member state's economies, the bloc also focused on peace and stability in the region. On 15 December 1995, the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty was signed with the intention of turning Southeast Asia into a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. The treaty took effect on 28 March 1997 after all but one of the member states have ratified it. It became fully effective on 21 June 2001, after the Philippines ratified it, effectively banning all nuclear weapons in the region.

1.6.1. Environment and democracy

At the turn of the 21st century, issues shifted to involve a more environmental perspective. The organisation started to discuss environmental agreements. These included the signing of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution in 2002 as an attempt to control haze pollution in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, this was unsuccessful due to the outbreaks of the 2005 Malaysian haze and the 2006 Southeast Asian haze. Other environmental treaties introduced by the organisation include the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security, the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) in 2005, and the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, both of which are responses to the potential effects of climate change. Climate change is of current interest.

Through the Bali Concord II in 2003, ASEAN has subscribed to the notion of democratic peace, which means all member countries believe democratic processes will promote regional peace and stability. Also, the non-democratic members all agreed that it was something all member states should aspire to.

In 2006, ASEAN was given observer status at the United Nations General Assembly. As a response, the organisation awarded the status of "dialogue partner" to the United Nations. Furthermore, on 23 July that year, José Ramos-Horta, then Prime Minister of East Timor, signed a formal request for membership and expected the accession process to last at least five years before the then-observer state became a full member.

In 2007, ASEAN celebrated its 40th anniversary since its inception, and 30 years of diplomatic relations with the United States. On 26 August 2007, ASEAN stated that it aims to complete all its free trade agreements with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand by 2013, in line with the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015. In November 2007 the ASEAN members signed the ASEAN Charter, a constitution governing relations among the ASEAN members and establishing ASEAN itself as an international legal entity. During the same year, the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security was signed in Cebu on 15 January 2007, by ASEAN and the other members of the EAS (Australia, People's Republic of China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea), which promotes energy security by finding energy alternatives to conventional fuels.

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On February 27, 2009 a Free Trade Agreement with the ASEAN regional block of 10 countries and New Zealand and its close partner Australia was signed, it is estimated that this FTA would boost aggregate GDP across the 12 countries by more than US$48 billion over the period 2000-2020.

1.6.2. Cultural activities

Logo of the S.E.A. Write Award

The organisation hosts cultural activities in an attempt to further integrate the region. These include sports and educational activities as well as writing awards. Examples of these include the ASEAN University Network, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, the ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and Technologist Award, and the Singapore-sponsored ASEAN Scholarship.

1.6.3. S.E.A. Write Award

The S.E.A. Write Award is a literary award given to Southeast Asian poets and writers annually since 1979. The award is either given for a specific work or as a recognition of an author's lifetime achievement. Works that are honoured vary and have included poetry, short stories, novels, plays, folklore as well as scholarly and religious works. Ceremonies are held in Bangkok and are presided by a member of the Thai royal family.

1.6.4. ASAIHL

ASAIHL or the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning is a non-governmental organisation founded in 1956 that strives to strengthen higher learning institutions, espescially in teaching, research, and public service, with the intention of cultivating a sense of regional identity and interdependence.

1.6.5. Heritage Parks

ASEAN Heritage Parks is a list of nature parks launched 1984 and relaunched in 2004. It aims to protect the region's natural treasures. There are now 35 such protected areas, including theTubbataha Reef Marine Park and the Kinabalu National Park.

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List

ASEAN Heritage Sites

Site Country Site Country

Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park MyanmarAo Phang-nga Marine National Park

Thailand

Apo Natural Park Philippines Ba Be National Park Vietnam

Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park Indonesia Gunung Leuser National Park Indonesia

Gunung Mulu National Park Malaysia Ha Long Bay Vietnam

Hoang Lien Sa Pa National Park Vietnam Iglit-Baco National Park Philippines

Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary Myanmar Inlé Lake Wildlife Sanctuary Myanmar

Kaeng Krachan National Park Thailand Kerinci Seblat National Park Indonesia

Khakaborazi National Park Myanmar Khao Yai National Park Thailand

Kinabalu National Park Malaysia Komodo National Park Indonesia

Kon Ka Kinh National Park Vietnam Lampi Kyun Wildlife Reserve Myanmar

Lorentz National Park IndonesiaMeinmhala Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary

Myanmar

Mu Ko Surin-Mu Ko Similan Marine National Park

Thailand Nam Ha Protected Area Laos

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park VietnamPreah Monivong (Bokor) National Park

Cambodia

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

Philippines Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Singapore

Taman Negara National Park Malaysia Tarutao Marine National Park Thailand

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Tasek Merimbun Wildlife Sanctuary

BruneiThung Yai-Huay Kha Khaeng National Park

Thailand

Tubbataha Reef Marine Park Philippines Ujung Kulon National Park Indonesia

Virachey National Park Cambodia Keraton Yogyakarta Indonesia

1.6.6. Scholarship

The ASEAN Scholarship is a scholarship program offered by Singapore to the 9 other member states for secondary school, junior college, and university education. It covers accommodation, food, medical benefits & accident insurance, school fees, and examination fees.

1.6.7. University Network

The ASEAN University Network (AUN) is a consortium of Southeast Asian universities. It was originally founded in November 1995 by 11 universities within the member states. Currently AUN comprises 21 Participating Universities.

1.6.8. Official song The ASEAN Way - the official regional anthem of ASEAN, music by Kittikhun

Sodprasert and Sampow Triudom Thailand; Lyrics by Payom Valaiphatchra Thailand. ASEAN Song of Unity or ASEAN Hymn, music by Ryan Cayabyab Philippines. Let us move ahead , an ASEAN song, composed by Candra Darusman Indonesia.

1.6.9. Sports

Southeast Asian Games

The Southeast Asian Games, commonly known as the SEA Games, is a biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia. The games is under regulation of the Southeast Asian Games Federation with supervision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia.

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ASEAN Para Games

Logo of the ASEAN Para Games

The ASEAN Para Games is a biennial multi-sport event held after every Southeast Asian Games for athletes with physical disabilities. The games are participated by the 11 countries located in Southeast Asia. The Games, patterned after the Paralympic Games, are played by physically challenged athletes with mobility disabilities, visual disabilities, who are amputees and those with cerebral palsy.

FESPIC Games/ Asian Para Games

The FESPIC Games, also known as the Far East and South Pacific Games for the persons with disability, was the biggest multi-sports games in Asia and South Pacific region. The FESPIC Games were held nine times and bowed out, a success in December 2006 in the 9th FESPIC Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Games re-emerges as the 2010 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, China. The 2010 Asian Para Games will debut shortly after the conclusion of the 16th Asian Games, using the same facilities and venue made disability-accessible. The inaugural Asian Para Games, the parallel event for athletes with physical disabilities, is a multi-sport event held every four years after every Asian Games.

Football Championship

The ASEAN Football Championship is a biennial Football competition organised by the ASEAN Football Federation, accredited by FIFA and contested by the national teams of Southeast Asia nations. It was inaugurated in 1996 as Tiger Cup, but after Asia Pacific Breweries terminated the sponsorship deal, "Tiger" was renamed "ASEAN".

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2. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC)

2.1. INTRODUCTION

The world today is at a turning point. The changes that we are undergoing are global in scope, revolutionary, fundamental and structural in content. As we have entered the 21st century a sense of optimism prevails for attaining peace and prosperity through effective role-play of regional as well as global organizations.

Many view Asia as having a variety of characteristics in common with Europe of the nineteenth century: underdeveloped international institutions, mixed domestic orders, rising nationalism, high but differential growth rates, and bitter, emotional rivalries between insecure neighbours. The success of states in today’s world is not so much measured in terms of capacity for defending borders or creating uniquely national institutions, but in terms of ability to adapt to regional and global trends, promote exports, attract investments, and skilled labour, provide a beneficial environment for transnational companies, build attractive institutions of research and higher learning, wield political influence on the regional and global scene, and also brand the nation culturally in the international market-place.

Consequently, regional associations are fast becoming an important and effective new scene for political and economic interaction in the world. In this new environment the importance of regional community and functional groupings has been heightened. Regional, political and religious blocs of nations now provide platforms for a number of countries to exercise influence in global affairs. Interest in greater regional economic integration, fuelled partly by the achievement of an economic union and a single currency in Europe, has grown in different parts of the world. This includes South Asia and the regional organization known as South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which has announced the goal of attaining an economic union and expressed the desire for a common currency. SAARC is a fairly recent association, established in 1985 by the seven member states of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. These seven countries differ greatly in land area, GDP, and population, although they have similar levels of human and economic development. They also share the unusual feature of having a common border with one another member country. The objective of this paper is to present some preliminary information relevant to the pattern and process of regional economic integration in the member states under SAARC in the region. Today world is divided into two major categories. The states whose influence goes beyond a particular region — the world powers — and those whose influence is confined to a particular region — the regional powers.

2.2. OBJECTIVE

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is a dynamic institutionalized regional cooperation in South Asia, basically perceived as an economic grouping to work together for accelerating the pace of socio-economic and cultural development. The objectives of the association as defined in the

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SAARC Charter are:

• To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia;

• To contribute to develop mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s problem;

• To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields;

• To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries;

• To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interest; and

• To cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes.

Cooperation in the SAARC is based on respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in internal affairs of the member states and mutual benefit. Regional cooperation is seen as a complement to the bilateral and multilateral relations of SAARC members. Decisions are taken on the basis of unanimity. Bilateral and contentious issues are excluded from the deliberations of SAARC. Though economic cooperation among South Asian nations was not a new phenomenon yet the quest for economic integration remained inhibited by the colonial heritage of these countries. Since 1985, SAARC has evolved slowly but continuously both in terms of institutions and programmes. However, it is true that most of the programmes and achievements of SAARC exist on paper. The much talked about SAARC Food Security Reserve could not be utilized to meet the needs of Bangladesh during its worst natural disaster in 1991. It is also true that most SAARC activities are confined to the holding of seminars, workshops, and short training programmes. These activities may be useful, but they do not address priority areas and lack visibility and regional focus so essential for evolving a South Asian identity. Most importantly, SAARC suffers from an acute resource crunch. Unless the organization is successful in mobilizing funds and technical know-how from outside sources, most of its projects cannot be implemented and, thus, its relevance will remain limited.

2.3. HISTORY

The evolution passed through four phases that include:

1. Conception (1977-80)2. The Meeting of Foreign Secretaries (1981-83)3. The Meeting of Foreign Ministers (1983-85)4. The Summits (1985-2004)

The first concrete proposal for establishing a framework for regional cooperation in South Asia was made by the late president of Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman, on May 2, 1980. Prior to this, the idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was discussed in at least three conferences: the Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi in April 1947, the Baguio Conference in the Philippines in May 1950, and the Colombo Powers Conference in April 1954. Since 1977, the Bangladesh president seemed to

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have been working on the idea of an ASEAN-like organization in South Asia. During his visit to India in December 1977, Ziaur Rahman discussed the issue of regional cooperation with the new Indian Prime Minister, Morarji Desai. In the inaugural speech to the Colombo Plan Consultative Committee which met in Kathmandu in December 1977, King Birendra of Nepal gave a call for close regional cooperation among South Asian countries in sharing river waters. President Ziaur Rahman welcomed the King’s call during the former’s visit to Bangladesh in January 1978. President Ziaur Rahman had also informally discussed the idea of regional cooperation with the leaders of South Asian countries during the Commonwealth Summit in Lusaka (1979) and the Non-Aligned Summit in Havana (1979). However, the Bangladesh president seems to have given a concrete shape to the proposal after his visit to Sri Lanka and discussion with the Sri Lankan president, J.R. Jayawardene, in November 1979. Several factors seem to have influenced President Ziaur Rahman’s thinking about establishing a regional organization in South Asia during 1975-1979:

1. Change in the political leadership in South Asian countries and demonstration of accommodative diplomacy by the new leaders;

2. Ziaur Rahman’s need for Indian support to legitimize his coup d’état regime; 3. An acute balance of payment crisis of almost all South Asian countries which was further

aggravated by the second oil crisis in 1979;4. Failure of the North-South dialogues, and increasing protectionism by the developed countries;5. Publication of an extremely useful background report by the Committee on Studies for

Cooperation in Development in South Asia (CSCD), identifying many feasible areas of cooperation;

6. Assurance of economic assistance for multilateral cooperative projects on sharing water resources of the Ganga and Brahmaputra by United States President Jimmy Carter and British Prime Minister James Callaghan during their visit to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in January 1978; and

7. The Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan in late December 1979 and the resulting rapid deterioration of South Asian security situation.

During this critical period, President Ziaur Rahman’s initiative for establishing a regional organization which would give the leaders of South Asian countries an opportunity to improve their understanding of one another’s problems and to deal with conflicts before they turned into crisis, became much more appealing. While the Bangladesh proposal was promptly endorsed by Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Bhutan, India and Pakistan were sceptical initially. India’s main concern was the proposal’s reference to the security matters in South Asia. Indian policy-makers also feared that Ziaur Rahman’s proposal for a regional organization might provide an opportunity for new smaller neighbours to regionalize all bilateral issues and to join with each other to gang up against India. Pakistan assumed that it might be an Indian strategy to organize the other South Asian countries against Pakistan and ensure a regional market for Indian products, thereby consolidating and further strengthening India’s economic dominance in the region. However, after a series of quiet diplomatic consultations between South Asian foreign ministers at the UN headquarters in New York from August to September 1980, it was agreed that Bangladesh would prepare the draft of a working paper for discussion among the foreign secretaries of South Asian countries. The new Bangladesh draft paper, sensitive to India’s and Pakistan’s concerns, dropped all references to security matters

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and suggested only non-political and non-controversial areas for cooperation. Between 1980 and 1983, four meetings at the foreign secretary level (April 21-23, 1981, Colombo; November 2-4, 1981, Kathmandu; August 7-8, 1982, Islamabad; March 28-30, 1983, Dhaka) took place to establish the principles of organization and identify areas for cooperation. After three years of preparatory discussions at the official level, the focus of discussion shifted to the political level in 1983. The first South Asian foreign ministers’ conference was held in New Delhi from August 1-3, 1983, where the Integrated Programme of Action (IPA) on mutually agreed areas of cooperation (i.e., agriculture, rural development, telecommunications, meteorology, health and population control, transport, sports, arts and culture, postal services and scientific and technical cooperation) was launched. The foreign ministers at this conference also adopted a Declaration on Regional Cooperation, formally beginning an organization known as South Asian Regional Cooperation (SARC). Following the New Delhi meeting, three more meetings of the foreign ministers were held at Male (July 10-11, 1984), Thimpu (May 13-14, 1985), and Dhaka (December 5, 1985) to finalize details and determine a date and place for the first meeting of South Asian heads of state. At the Dhaka foreign ministers’ meeting, a decision was taken to change the name of the organization from South Asian Regional Cooperation (SARC) to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The change in the acronym was based on the thinking that while SARC refers to the process of South Asian Regional Cooperation, SAARC marks the establishment of an association (organization) to promote and develop such cooperation. Finally, the first summit meeting of the heads of state or government of South Asian countries was held at Dhaka from December 7-8, 1985.

2.3.1. Salient Features of the Organization Secretariat

The SAARC Secretariat is based in Kathmandu. It coordinates and monitors implementation of activities, prepares for and services meetings, and serves as a channel of communication between the Association and its member states as well as other regional organizations. The Secretary General, who is appointed by the Council of Ministers from member countries in alphabetical order for a three-year term, heads the Secretariat. Mr. Q.A.M.A. Rahim from Bangladesh is the current Secretary General. The previous Secretaries Generals were from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The next Secretary General is to be from Bhutan. Seven Directors on deputation from member states assist the Secretary General. The SAARC Secretariat and member states observe 8 December as the SAARC Charter Day.

2.3.2. SAARC Regional Centres

Regional Centres covering Agriculture, Tuberculosis, Documentation, Meteorological Research, and Human Resource Development have been established in different SAARC capitals: SAIC (Dhaka, 1998) STC (Kathmandu, 1992) SDC (New Delhi, 1994) SMRC (Dhaka, 1995) SHRDC (Islamabad, 1999) SCC (Kandy, 2004) SCZMC (Malé, 2004) and SIC (Kathmandu, 2004). In addition, three new regional centres covering Culture, Coastal Zones Management, and Information are being established.

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2.4. SUMMITS Summits which are the highest authority in SAARC, are supposed to be held annually. The country hosting the Summit also holds the Chair of the Association. Bangladesh hosted the Thirteenth Summit in November 2005 at Dhaka as the Chairperson of

the Association. The Council of Ministers comprising Foreign Ministers, meets at least twice a year.

South Asia’s regional cooperation, international political and economic environment, poverty alleviation, advancing economic cooperation, funding mechanisms, security of small states, combating, terrorism, social, natural disasters and environmental challenges as an agenda for third decade of SAARC were discussed in the Thirteenth Summit. Enhancing people-to-people contact and cultural cooperation, political cooperation and external linkages of SAARC was also discussed. SAARC member states welcomed the request by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for membership and invited Afghanistan as a member, subject to the completion of formalities. SAARC member states also agreed in principle with the desire of the People’s Republic of China and Japan to be associated as observers. The Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters Establishment of SAARC Arbitration Council, and the Limited Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters were signed during the thirteenth SAARC Summit. Its functions include formulating policy, reviewing progress of regional cooperation, identifying new areas of cooperation and establishing additional mechanisms that may be necessary. The Standing Committee comprising Foreign Secretaries, monitors and coordinates SAARC programmes of cooperation, approves projects including their financing and mobilizes regional and external resources. It meets as often as necessary and reports to the Council of Ministers. The Association also convenes meetings at Ministerial Level on specialized themes. The Committee on Economic Cooperation consisting of Secretaries of Commerce oversees regional cooperation in the economic field.

During the Twelfth Summit in Islamabad, the SAARC Social Charter was signed in order to address social issues such as population stabilization, empowerment of women, youth mobilization, human resource development, promotion of health and nutrition, and protection of children, which are keys to the welfare and well-being of all South Asians. South Asian States have adopted Conventions on the Suppression of Terrorism (including Additional Protocol signed in January 2004 in Islamabad), Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Trafficking in Women and Children, and Child Welfare in South Asia. An Agreement on Food Security Reserve is also in place. During the 12th SAARC summit held in Islamabad the leaders of South Asia reiterated their commitment to form South Asian Economic Union (SAEU). If formed, it will pave the way for more ambitious — but entirely achievable — goals such as a Free Trade Area, an Economic Union, open borders, and a common currency for the region. As President Pervez Musharraf said, “we must expand SAARC charter to discuss bilateral issues at the regional level. There can be no development in the absence of peace. There can be no peace, so long as political issues and disputes continue to fester”. The Twelfth summit renewed the urgency to deal with poverty in the region. For this purpose, the Summit directed the Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation (ISACPA) to submit to the next Summit a comprehensive and realistic blueprint setting out SAARC Development Goals for the

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next five years in the areas of poverty alleviation, education, health and environment.

The Governors of the Central Banks of member states under the auspices of SAARC FINANCE meet regularly to consider cooperation in financial matters. For strengthening cooperation in information and media related activities of the Association, the Heads of National Television and Radio Organizations of member countries meet annually. Similarly, the SAARC Audio-Visual Exchange (SAVE) Committee disseminates information both on SAARC and its Member States through regular Radio and TV programmes.

In the field of education, the Member States cooperate through the forums of SACODiL (SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning) and Heads of Universities Grants Commission/Equivalent Bodies.

Memoranda of Understanding have been signed to promote collaboration with UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific), UNDCP (United Nations Drug Control Programme), ITU (International Telecommunications Union), APT (Asia Pacific Telecommunity), WHO (World Health Organization), UNIFEM (United Nations Fund for Women), CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency), EC (European Commission), PTB (German Metrology Institute), WB (World Bank), ADB (Asian Development Bank), UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) and SACEP (South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme).

Regular dialogues with other Regional Organizations such as ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations), ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) and PIFS (Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat) are held with a view to promoting cooperation among sub-regional organizations. The Association promotes interaction on multilateral issues of common concern to its members and has identified areas in which collective positions could be projected at international forums. These include trade, finance, environment, agriculture, women and children, information and telecommunications. Beyond official linkages, SAARC also encourages and facilitates cooperation in private sector through the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), which is a SAARC Apex Body. Other such bodies are SAARCLAW and South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA). In addition, the status of SAARC Recognized Bodies has been accorded to professional groups in South Asia including Architects, Management Development Institutions, University Women, Town Planners, Cardiologists, Dermatologists, Teachers, Writers, Insurance Organizations, Diploma Engineers, Radiological and Surgical Care Societies. The Association of Speakers and Parliamentarians enjoy special recognition by the Heads of State or Government.

2.5. AREAS OF ACTIVITY2.5.1. Agriculture

The first area of cooperation identified for regional cooperation SAARC Agricultural Information Centre (SAIC) was set up in Dhaka in 1988 There is regular exchange of information and interaction on issues of forestry, fishery, livestock, vaccines, wheat breeding programs, and training in the related fields. Regular meeting of counterpart scientists for

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networking on rice, wheat, oilseeds, horticulture (potato), vegetables and fruits, fisheries, forestry, transfer of technology, livestock, farm machinery and implements, post harvest technology, agriculture economics and policies and soils also takes place. The 1990s have seen the SAARC focus on genetic engineering and biotechnology for crop and livestock improvement, agricultural and horticultural development.

2.5.2. Communications

The TC strives to bring about over-all improvement in the postal services in the region. The TC conducts training, seminars, pertaining to mail accounting, postal management services, postal operations, and mechanisations of postal operations, agency functions, financial services, customer are, EMS and postal marketing. The group also aims at providing telecommunication services to majority of the rural population and thus promoting technological and human resource development and management

2.5.3. Education, Culture and Sports

The Social Charter spells out a deep consciousness of the fact that education is the cutting edge in the struggle against eradicating poverty and the promotion of development and development of the youth is an imperative to the resurgence of South Asian consciousness. The State parties have re-affirmed to provide free education to all between ages 6-14, investment in vocational training, providing youth access to education about family planning, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, consumption of tobacco, alcohol and drugs. The committee is also engaged in the improvement and expansion of the SAARC Chairs, Fellowships and Scholarship Schemes. The SAARC Ministers for Culture approved a SAARC Agenda for Culture in April 2007; which includes promotion of SAARC Culture online, production of cultural source materials on South Asia, establish linkage between culture and other sectors in attaining social and economic development and promotion of cultural products.

2.5.4. Environment and Meteorology

The TC has commissioned various studies such as “Causes and Consequences of Natural Disasters and the Protection and Preservation of the Environment”, “Greenhouse Effects and Its Impact on the Region”, etc. The Committee has formulated a collective position on climate change, which was subsequently presented at the Kyoto Conference in December 1997.

2.5.5. Health, Population Activities and Child Welfare

The TC addresses primary health issues and communicable diseases, sharing of information regarding outbreak of any communicable disease in the member states, sharing of expertise, etc. The TC believes that population policies should provide for human centred approach to population and development and aim towards human survival and well-being. The TC looks into safeguarding and protection of the child against all forms of abuse and exploitation, children in conflict, disadvantaged children, etc, all have been addressed in the Charter for

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attention by the State Parties. The SAARC Tuberculosis Centre was established in Kathmandu in 1992. The SAARC Ministerial Conference on Children of South Asia in 1996 expressed the need to formulate a Convention on Regional Arrangements on the Promotion of Child Welfare in South Asia and launched the SAARC Decade of the Rights of the Child from 2001 to 2010.

2.5.6. Prevention of Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse

The TC exchanges information, shares national experiences and common programs so as to strengthen legal systems, financial investigations, countering criminal conspiracies, frequent meetings at both policy and operational levels, enhanced control of production and use of licit drugs, and precursors and their essential chemicals. The SAARC Drug Offences Monitoring Desk has been established in Colombo to collate, analyse and disseminate information on drug offences.

2.5.7. Rural Development

The TC carries out exchange of information and literature among member states on issues relating to rural development, preparation of research studies on selected topics, exchanging expertise and sharing training facilities within the region. A Shelter Information Network (SHELTERNET) has been set up.

2.5.8. Science and Technology

The TC undertakes activities such as Seminars/Workshops/ Meetings of Experts, Training Programmes, Joint Research Projects, preparation of State-of-the-Art Reports and compilation of Directories on Food Technology; Renewable Energy Resources; Pesticides; Cultivation and Processing of Medicine and Aromatic Plants; Bio-Gas; Mineral Resources Exploration; Producer Gas; Application of Remote Sensing Techniques; Use of Organic Fertilisers; Building Material and Housing Technologies.

2.5.9. Tourism

The TC promotes cooperation in the field of tourism in the region. The TC conducts training programmes, exchange of information, joint promotion, joint venture investment, intra-regional tourism etc. It also produces the SAARC Travel Guide and SAARC tourism promotional films on the theme

2.5.10. Transport

The TC covers three major segments of transport, i.e. land transport, divided into roadways and railways; sea transport sub-divided into inland waterways and shipping; and air transport. They exchange data and information, preparation of status papers, compilation of database and directories of consultancy centres for transport sector. Transport has been recognised a vital area in providing access to products and markets and opening up new areas of productivity, particularly with the operationalisation of SAFTA

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2.5.11. Women in Development

Specific issues taken up by the TC include, preparation of a Regional Plan of Action for Women, effective dissemination of technical information relating to women in development generated by Member States. One of the most important features of the work of the Technical Committee was designating 1990 as the SAARC Year of the Girl Child and 1991-2000 as the SAARC Decade of the Girl Child. An appraisal of the situation of Girl Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances (GCEDC) was also carried out in December 1996 where key common issues and concerns of SAARC Member States were identified. A Regional Convention on Combating the Crime of Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution has also been discussed.

2.6. ACHIEVEMENTS

Several factors such as political, economic, security and potentiality of mutual economic benefit through regionalism seem to have influenced President Ziaur Rahman’s thinking about establishing a regional organization in South Asia. SAARC’s existence, however, has enabled South Asian political leaders to meet regularly and carry on informal discussions to address their mutual problems. This is no mean achievement given South Asia’s past history and low level of interaction among South Asian countries since their independence. Informal talks among the leaders at regularly held SAARC meetings have led to inter-elite reconciliation on many sensitive issues, producing some noteworthy results in South Asia. The informal talks between the Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers at the second SAARC Summit meeting at Bangalore in November 1986 led to the diffusion of tension between the two countries on the issue of India’s military exercise, Operation Brasstacks, on the Indo-Pakistan border, and the India-Sri Lanka talks at the 1987 SAARC foreign ministers’ meeting led to their accord on the Tamil problem. As a result of an informal meeting and discussion between Prime Minister of India and Pakistan, Narasimha Rao and Nawaz Sharif, at Davos (Switzerland), in 1992, the Pakistani government took action to prevent the move of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) to cross the ceasefire line in Kashmir later that year. The Davos meeting was possible because of an earlier informal agreement between the two leaders at the sixth SAARC Summit meeting at Colombo in December 1991. Given this utility of SAARC, can the organization grow or expand its role in the coming decades?

The Heads of State or Government during the Ninth SAARC Summit agreed for the first time that a process of informal political consultations would prove useful in promoting peace, stability, amity and accelerated socio-economic cooperation in the region. The leaders reiterated this intent during their Tenth and Eleventh Summits in Colombo and Kathmandu respectively also. The Agreement on SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) was signed in 1993 and four rounds of trade negotiations have been concluded. With the objective of moving towards a South Asian Economic Union (SAEU), the Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) was signed during the Twelfth Summit in Islamabad in January 2004. SAFTA may enter into force by the end of the year 2006. The Association has carried out Regional Studies on trade, manufactures and services, environment and

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poverty alleviation, SAFTA and Customs matters. Since its inception in 1984 there have also been serious differences among member countries over the aims and functioning of SAARC. Such differences have been pronounced in verbal bickerings in several SAARC meetings. This is in the face of the fact that closer social, economic and cultural ties (the espoused ideals of SAARC) are considered the one and only hope for building regional cooperation efforts in South Asia in the coming years. Indeed, increasing rationalization of world trade and the fluidity of the emerging global system has increased trade within each trade bloc and those countries that do not belong to any trade blocs are likely to be the losers. This also provides a strong rationale for sustaining the SAARC vis-à-vis future trade prospects of South Asia. The assumption that peace can be achieved through SAARC without addressing the political problems of the region has neither been able to cultivate peace nor to invigorate the SAARC process successfully. Though since its very inception it has been regularly able to hold Summit meetings yet there have been interruptions in between owing mainly to intrastate conflicts between the member countries.

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