Message from the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia

On the occasion of the SAARC Chapter Day, I on behalf of the government and people of Bangladesh, and on my own behalf, extend our warmest greetings and felicitations to governments and people of fellow SAARC member countries.

The observance of the SAARC Chapter Day this year assumes special significance as the South Asian nations celebrate the 20th anniversary of our association.

This is indeed an auspicious occasion to embark on the next phase of regional cooperation and making decisive progress in achieving the objectives enshrined in the Chapter.

The recently concluded 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka has marked a turning point for SAARC by taking epoch-making decisions.

The summit has also launched the Third Decade of SAARC as a decade of implementation.

In the coming year a comprehensive review and reform of all SAARC instructions will be undertaken making them capable of assuming the responsibilities of providing inputs for policy making, elaboration of projects and programmes at national, sub-regional and regional levels as well as effective follow up and implementation.

We have reiterated our commitment to the vision of a South Asian Economic Union in a planned and phased process. To that end, an Experts Group is being set up to draw an agenda for the Third Decade of SAARC.

We have decided to put in place effective funding mechanism for financing of SAARC projects and programmes, with topmost priority given to poverty alleviation.

We have decided to welcome the support of development partners including international financing institutions for SAARC projects and programmes.

The SAARC family has been expanded and strengthened with the admission of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as a member.

On this occasion, I extend our warmest felicitations to the government and people of Afghanistan on joining the family of SAARC nations. I extend our most cordial welcome to the governments and people of the People's Republic of China and Japan as observers to SAARC.

On this occasion I join others in paying homage to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman for his statesmanship and far-sightedness in launching and in pursuing the idea of a regional cooperation organisation in South Asia.

The 13th SAARC Summit has ushered in a new era of regional cooperation. I call for a coalition of the governments, the private sectors and the civil society organisations for the realisation of the shared aspirations of the people of South Asia to build a more peaceful, prosperous and forward-looking South Asia.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin