It is’s a pleasure for me to have the opportunity of this interaction with you just on the eve of the Fourteenth SAARC Summit. All of you are in the field for quite some time. If I say something about the tremendous influence which the media persons have in creating public opinion on any issue, it will be like carrying coal to Newcastle. Therefore, I am not venturing that. What I want to have through this interaction is to convey the message of the SAARC fraternity, goodwill and the need for strengthening SAARC. You are fully aware of the fact that other regional blocs, especially the European Union, apart from its economic and commercial activities, the tremendous influence it is exerting over the international scenario as a bloc, as an entity, is just remarkable. Cutting across the centuries old disputes, war, fights, struggles, differences just within six decades post-Second World War, it merged as the European Union. It is a landmark not only in the history of Europe but the whole world. I am not going into the historical perspective. I am just emphasizing the emergence of the bloc and how different countries as an entity can play a crucial role in the international arena. Keeping that in view, we the SAARC member countries belonging to same cultural milieu, having the same perceptions perhaps through our interaction and closer cooperation, we can do much more than what we are doing currently. When SAARC began its journey from there, we have covered a long way, but we are yet to cover many more miles and it would be our effort in the current Summit to focus on the issue of our closeness, coming together, connectivity and the need to work in close cooperation. I do feel that if our friends from media can convey that type of message, it would be a very positive contribution from your side. With these words, I welcome you once again. Of course, we will have more opportunities of interaction during the course of the Summit. Thank you very much.

Question (Mr. Mehbubul Alam, Independent, Bangladesh): Sir, we talk of connectivity all the time, how will we achieve it?
External Affairs Minister: First of all, we have to recognize the need for it and I am now satisfied that all member countries recognize the need for building up connectivity. Connectivity does not merely include physical connectivity by road links or by rail links or by waterways or by air links but also connectivity by expanding knowledge, trade, experiences and sharing perceptions. Therefore, our efforts would be to identify the projects through which we will be able to implement these ideas. The ultimate objective should be to have a free flow of not only persons, trade, goods and services but also of ideas so that we can benefit from each others’ experiences.

Question (Mr Bandula Jayasekara, Daily News, Sri Lanka): Sir, we have a lot of ceremonial talks in the SAARC, but in terms of implementation nothing much happens? Is it due to lack of political commitment?
External Affairs Minister: I don’t say it is due to lack of political commitment but we could not or rather we have not been able to pursue certain issues that we have decided to do. Therefore, emphasis should be on implementation. However good decisions you may take, if it is not properly implemented in time, it loses focus. Keeping that in mind, we will try to see that the decisions we take shall be implemented in letter and spirit and within a specific timeframe.

Question (Mr Ejaz Haider, Friday Times, Pakistan): Sir, even if you try and keep bilateral issues away from the SAARC forum, it keeps on impinging and keeps nibbling on the edges of SAARC. When you say that decisions are made but not implemented because there are so many examples that once the issue moves away from the SAARC forum, there is a bilateral equation which comes in the way and there is a certain degree of cussedness shown by the states bilaterally which is one thing that casts its shadow on the SAARC? How do you suggest that shadow can be removed?
External Affairs Minister: If the bilateral issues shadow the collective decisions taken during the SAARC in proper perspective, then we have to improve the bilateral relations also. Though SAARC charter does not permit to bring any bilateral and contentious issue but I do agree that sometimes the bilateral relations overshadow the collective decisions we take in this forum. But if you have noticed, in the recent years strenuous efforts are made by all SAARC countries to improve the bilateral relationship so it is having some impact. It is not to the extent to make it an ideal situation but things are improving in a major way.

Question (Mr Ejaz Haider, Friday Times, Pakistan): You are saying that it is the bilateral equation that is impacting the multilateral relation rather than the other way around?
External Affairs Minister: No, it’s not that. If somebody’s presumption is that bilateral relations are shadowing the multilateral relationship within the SAARC framework, in that context, my response is that we should improve the bilateral relation itself so that it does not effect the decision taken collectively. Secondly, we should also have to keep in mind that when we are taking the decision collectively at the multilateral fora, we are obliged to implement it in letter and spirit. Therefore one is not dependent on the other. Both seem to take place simultaneously.

Question (Mr Ibrahim Khaleel, Maldives Television): What are the main obstacles that SAARC faces today?
External Affairs Minister: When we started SAARC, it was in a different economic scenario. Essentially, it is for economic cooperation. In the nineties, most of the SAARC countries adopted economic liberalization process. As a consequence to that, what we have noticed is that despite difficulties, the SAARC countries have maintained a steady, sustained, substantial GDP growth over a reasonably long period and it is emerging as one of the fastest growing region in respect of individual member countries and collectively together. Therefore, this is the time to harness it to the fullest extent so that we can have more benefits. For instance, though our international trade in terms of volume and value is increasing, the SAARC inter-regional trade is not expanding very fast. Therefore, these are the areas that we have to take focused action so that we can improve.

Question (Mr Narayan Wagle, Kantipur Daily, Nepal): What difference can the observers make to this Conference according to you?
External Affairs Minister: This is the first time we are having observers and one full member. Afghanistan is the full member, eighth member of the SAARC family and three other observers from the region of Asia which is high growth area. China ,Japan and Korea - all three countries are having very high growth. Other two of course are European Union and the United States. From the connectivity point of view, if you just categorize in the map, through Afghanistan, SAARC countries can have a link to Central Asia. Through already existing relations and linkages through India and through Bangladesh, (SAARC countries can have a link) with Myanmar, which is the part of the ASEAN. So we are having physical contact on the one hand with one powerful bloc, ASEAN, and we are also having access to Central Asia and to West Asia. But apart from that physical contact, culturally, we do feel that Afghanistan is a part of the subcontinent. So its membership as the eighth member of SAARC is justified. In addition to that, a stable, prosperous and developed Afghanistan is important for the stability and peace of the region as a whole. With closer interaction with the three countries, powerful economies of Asia, we also have the European Union and the USA having economic and commercial relations with all the SAARC countries. Therefore these are the ideas which we are having and when the decision was taken by the SAARC leaders in the last summit, it was very wise.

Question (Mr Rinzig Wangchuk, Kuensel, Bhutan): India is a major global player, how will it help SAARC move forward ?
External Affairs Minister: India will play its own role as a large country within the SAARC family and that in our different actions, different programmes we will do it. What we do believe, and we have articulated in earlier occasions also, that it is not necessary that we should emphasize on reciprocity. Many of the decisions which we can afford, we can have it unilaterally. And surely, we would like to play that role in the coming years to ensure that SAARC becomes a prosperous bloc as such .

Question (Ms Farida Nekzad, Pajwhok Afghan News Agency, Afghanistan): Do you think by this Summit, when Afghanistan has become the eighth member of SAARC, the transit problem will be solved….(inaudible)… ?
External Affairs Minister: Of course, currently we are having limited access. The current arrangement with Afghanistan is that we are having transit through sea port via Pakistan, through Karachi. Now if we have the transit through road also, then through Afghanistan we can have straight linkage to Central Asia. Therefore, the connectivity would be much more expanded and these are the opportunities which will be open to us, and it is for us to decide whether we take this opportunity or advantage or not.

Question (Mr Bandula Jayasekara, Daily News, Sri Lanka): SAARC countries have signed many Conventions on formation of Anti Terror Mechanism, but nothing is happening. There is no practical movement?
External Affairs Minister: Many of the decisions that we have taken which are yet to be implemented, they should be fully implemented. Decision taking is not adequate unless you implement it in letter and spirit.

Question (Mr Bandula Jayasekara, Daily News, Sri Lanka): What Sri Lanka has faced last week, don’t you think it is vital and important to take steps soon?
External Affairs Minister: These problems are not merely related to this region. Today, of course, you are talking of terrorism because you are the victims of terrorism for quite some time and in my own Parliament, in response to a question I replied that we have lost more number of civilian people (to terrorism) compared to what we have lost in the declared wars after independence. Therefore, we are fully aware of this problem. After 9/11 it has spread all over the world and today in the post cold war era, terrorism is the biggest menace to world peace and tranquility. It is not only a threat to the SAARC but the entire international community and the entire international community has to assert and fight this menace which is the biggest threat to peace and tranquility of the world.

Question (Mr Ibrahim Khaleel, Maldives): Do you think the benefits of SAARC can be shared equally?
External Affairs Minister: Not in volumes, but the benefits of policies, cooperation can be extended to you and it will depend on the absorption capacity of the country concerned, to what extent they are willing to absorb. What is the requirement? What is required for me, for instance, to ensure food security? The quantum of India’s food requirement cannot be matched with the food requirement of Maldives. It depends on its own requirement, on its own absorption capacity. Just giving you an instance, it is one of the objectives of SAARC to have food security for the entire region. That’s why the food bank, concept of food bank was there and perhaps with the approval of the SAARC Council of Minister we are going to have it. Every country big or small has equal right, equal voice as per the international practice.Therefore, every decision in SAARC is taken by the consensus, not by majority or minority. So here, every country enjoys absolutely equal footing, equal status.

Question (Mr Ejaz Haider, Friday Times, Pakistan): My understanding is that Pakistan is not willing to give overland transit facility to India. Is there any advancement on that?
External Affairs Minister: Let us discuss, let us find out if there is any difficulty and let us remove. After all, we have to proceed on the basis of discussions and planning. There is no other way. However strenuous it may be, we shall have to pursue that path.

Question (Mr Narayan Wagle, Kantipur Daily, Nepal): Is India interested in helping countries in the neighborhood?
External Affairs Minister: We have to live with our neighbors. You cannot change your neighbors, perhaps you can change your friends or make or unmake your friends, but you cannot change your neighbors. Therefore it is desirable that we must have a peaceful and stable neighborhood. If there would be no peace and stability in the neighborhood, all of us, and India is the country which is having borders with almost all the SAARC countries. Therefore we would like to have peaceful, stable neighbors and in our own way, without interfering, try and have peace and stability in the region.

Question (Mr Bandula Jayasekara, Daily News, Sri Lanka): What is your expectation from the 14th SAARC Summit?
External Affairs Minister: I am a born optimist and from my own experiences I can share with you, I chaired the SAARC council of Ministers in 1995 being a Foreign Minister and what I find that when I take stock of the situation, the development of 11 years, from 1995 till today ,I find reasons to be optimistic .

Question (Ms Farida Nekzad, Pajwhok Afghan News Agency, Afghanistan): Will there be further extension of SAARC? Will China join the grouping?
External Affairs Minister: China is an observer, as I mentioned China, Japan and South Korea are observers apart from the European Union, but membership of Afghanistan was considered directly because of the geographical proximity and continuity and also because of cultural and civilizational links with large number of SAARC countries.So far as development is concerned, I do feel that Afghanistan is beneficiary partner country and it will be our efforts to see that every country takes benefit and advantage from our joint efforts.

Question (Mr Narayan Wagle, Kantipur Daily, Nepal): How do you visualize the SAARC process in the next decade?
External Affairs Minister: This is the right moment when we can have a quantum jump in the development in our progress. Because as I mentioned earlier, over a reasonably long period which you can describe as sustainable development in terms of the GDP of all the SAARC countries, we are all having the benefit of cooperationI can just give you one example, between India and Bhutan, we are having power projects, hydel power projects in Bhutan, and we are meeting our energy requirements and Bhutan is also having the benefit for its overall development because of the massive investment. It is just one example, examples can be multiplied. Similarly, the free trade agreement between Sri Lanka and India is also beneficial for both these countries, we will have these arrangements and why I am talking about this decade is important because if becomes really the century of Asia we are an important component of that Asian economy and it is fastest growing economy.Over the years it has sustained its economic development. We have all the abilities, market, talent, natural resources and we can develop it in its proper form and use it. I am quite confident that SAARC has a very bright prospect and with this note perhaps we can end. Thank you very much.

 

 

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