SAARC(The South Asian Association for Regional

Cooperation) is an association based on the

consciousness that in an increasingly interdependent

world, the objectives of peace, freedom, social

justice and economic prosperity are best achieved in

the South Asian Region by fostering mutual

understanding, good neighbourly relations and

meaningful cooperation among the member States

which are bound by ties of history and culture.

Article-52 and 53 of the charter of United Nations has accepted the provision of regional organisations. According to Article-52(1) of the charter, “Nothing in the present Charter precludes the existence of regional arrangements or agencies for dealing with such matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security as are appropriate for regional action, provided that such arrangement or agencies and their activities consistent with the purpose and Principles of the United Nations.” Similarly it is said in Article-53(1) , “ The Security Council shall where appropriate utilities such regional arrangement or agencies for enforcements or by regional agencies without the authorisation of the security Council…..”

SAARC is a regional organisation of eight South Asian

countries viz; India, Pakistan, Afghnistan, Bhutan, Nepal,

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives. It started with seven

members and decision to include Afghanistan as eight

member was taken during the 13th SAARC Summit which

was held in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh in November

2005. For the first time USA, CHINA, JAPAN,

EUROPEAN UNION and SOUTH KOREA attended the

14th SAARC Summit as observers which was held in New

Delhi in April, 2007.

The historical background of SAARC is given below-

1. Efforts of President Zia- Ur- Rehman of Bangladesh.

2. Colombo Meeting of Foreign Secretaries, 1981

3. Kathmandu Meeting of Foreign Secretaries,1981

4. Islamabad Meeting of Foreign Secretaries, 1982

5. Dhaka meeting of Foreign Secretaries, 1983

6. New Delhi Meeting of Foreign Ministers, 1983

7. Meeting of South Asian Regional Co- Operation, 1984

1. To promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve their quality of life.

2. To accelerate economic growth, Social progress and cultural development in the region.

3. To promote and strength collective self-reliance among countries of South Asia.

4. To contribute in the mutual trust, understanding, and appreciation of one another’s problem.

5. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific field.

6. To strengthen co-operation with other developing countries.

7. To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forum on matters of common interests.

8. To cooperate with the national and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes.

1. Respect of the sovereignty, equality, territorial

integrity and political independence of each others

domestic affairs.

2. To encourage mutual cooperation

3. The membership of SAARC would not act as

hindrance in having relations with the individual

countries of SAARC and with other countries.

4. All decisions in the SAARC Conference would be

taken by consensus.

1. MEETING OF THE HEADS OF STATE :- It is the supreme policy making organ and meets ordinarily once in a year.

2. COUNCIL OF MINISTERS:- The Foreign Ministers of SAARC countries are the members Council of ministers.

3. STANDING COMMITTEE:- The Foreign Secretaries are the members of the Standing committee.

4. TECHNICAL COMMITTEE:-This Committee comprising representatives of member states are responsible for the implementation.

5. ACTION COMMITTEE:-The standing Committee may set up Action Committee comprising of member states concerned with implementation of projects involving more than two but not all member states.

6. SECRETARIAT:- It is head office of SAARC which was established in 1987 in Kathmandu ( Nepal).

1. First Summit, December, 1985

2. Second Summit, November, 1986

3. Third Summit, Nov, 1987

4. Fourth Summit, December, 1988

5. Fifth Summit, November, 1990

6. Sixth Summit, Dec, 1991.

7. Seventh Summit April, 1993

8. Eigth Summit, May, 1995

9. Ninth Summit, May 1997

10. Tenth Summit, July , 1998

11. Eleventh Summit, Jan, 2002

12. Twelfth Summit, Jan, 2004

13. 13th Summit, Nov, 2005

14. 14th Summit, April, 2007

15. 15th Summit, August, 2008

16. 16th Summit, April , 2010

17. 17Th Summit, November, 2011

1. Platform to discuss issues of Common Interests.

2. Mutual Economic Benefits

3. Sense of Collective Security

4. Cultural Development

5. Helpful in containing Terrorism

1. Divergent Political Systems 2. Long Standing mutual disputes 3. Regional Imbalances 4. Mutual Distrust 5. Economic Competition 6. Dominant position of India 7. Problem of Ethnic Minorities 8. Preference to National Interests 9. Irregular Summits 10. Support to terrorism by Pakistan 11. Interference of Big Powers 12. Over population 13. Absence of efficient Administration 14. Wide spread Corruption

1. Preference to Economic Cooperation 2. Development of mutual Trust 3. Beware of Big Powers Intervention 4. Bilateral difference should be kept Aside 5. Search of New Areas of mutual Cooperation 6. SAARC should be made People’s Movement 7. Preference to the solution of common problems 8. To create South Asian Consciousness 9. Common strategy to deal with problems like

Terrorism, Protection of Environment and Human Rights

10. Regular summits

Peu, Ghosh, “International Relations”, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 2009.

J.S.BADYAL, “Comparative Political System and International Politics,” Raj

Publishers, jalandher,2012.

Prakash Chander and Prem Arora, “Comparative Politics and International

Relations” Cosmos Bookhive Pvt. Ltd. 1997.

en.wikipedia.org/.../South_Asian_Association_for_Regional_Cooperatio...

IGNOU Notes

Current Affair 2013

India Today magzine.

Chankya, december, 2011