Your Excellencies the Honourable Ministers of SAARC Countries, Mr. Secretary-General, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It gives me great pleasure to extend to you a very warm welcome. We are indeed very pleased to host this Ninth Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers in Male’. I know that you have before you a full agenda comprising matters of utmost importance to the peoples of South Asia as a whole. You will no doubt, review, among others, the implementation of the decisions taken at the Male’ Summit last year. Thus, your deliberations over the next two days will have an important bearing on the forthcoming summit in Sri Lanka.
Before I proceed further, I would like to express our deep sorrow over the tragic death of the former Prime Minister of India, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi. We mourn his loss, not only because of his singular contribution to SAARC as one of its founding fathers, but also because of his genuine commitment to international and regional cooperation, for which he was acclaimed both at home and abroad. Those of us who had had the privilege of knowing him will always remember him as a man of noble principles and great charm.
Rajiv Gandhi’s brutal assassination brings home to us the stark reality of international terrorism, the threats of which lurk in every corner of the globe. Let us make no mistake. Security from such ghastly crimes and other terrorist activities that are claiming thousands of innocent lives and are destabilising many countries, can only be obtained by a unified effort of the entire world. As such, I urge all member countries of SAARC, who have not yet done so, to take immediate action to enable the enforcement of the SAARC Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism which was signed in Kathmandu four years ago. WE can then launch a vigorous campaign to wipe out this menace from our region once and for all.
Many other problems and challenges, besides the threat of terrorism, confront the South Asian region. The recent cyclone that had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in Bangladesh, and the severe storms and flooding which had caused extensive damage to the Maldives, Sri Lanka and the west coast of India are environmental disasters that will have a lasting effect on our region. What is even more distressing is the spectre of hunger and disease which inevitably befalls the affected populations following each such disaster. Cyclones and tropical storms such as these are likely to become more frequent and more ferocious if the present trend in climate change continues unabated. Without collective action now, the effects of global warming and climate change could become catastrophic for the peoples of our region.
Speaking about environmental disasters, I am confident that this meeting of the Council of Ministers will review the progress made in the preparation of the on-going regional studies on the causes and consequences of natural disasters and the protection and preservation of the environment, and the impact of the greenhouse effect. I note that the first meeting of the experts looking into the greenhouse effect was held in Male’ recently and that the next is scheduled for later in the year. In view of the forthcoming UN Conference on Environment and Development, scheduled to be held in Brazil in April 1992, it is important that these studies are completed without further delay. The potential dangers of environmental change do cast an ominous shadow on the future of our region. We have to keep that in mind. And we have to ensure that adequate measures to minimise the adverse effects of environmental hazards and for disaster management are carefully considered when we prepare ourselves to observe 1992 as the SAARC Year of Environment.
Excellencies,
The 1990s are witnessing dramatic changes in the world political scene. The world appears to have entered a new era of “negotiation and cooperation” leaving behind the trying times of confrontation and the threat of war. A new relationship is emerging between the superpowers. There is also a move towards disarmament. So is there a discernible trend towards integration among the major industrialised countries and restructuring of Eastern Europe. No less significant are the efforts in South Africa towards the dismantling of apartheid.
Events closer to home, however, are not all too heartening. Tension among some countries of this region is, in fact, more than disturbing. Against this background, it becomes imperative for us to rededicate ourselves to regional harmony. We need to put our house in order before we search for equity in global relationships. For it is all too evident that credibility of the developing countries is often diminished by domestic problems and regional disputes.
On the global economic front, the situation is not encouraging either. The wide disparities between the north and the south have increased further. Already there is anxiety among the developing countries that with the focus on Eastern Europe by the west, north-south issues would be relegated. There are also fears that economic integration among the developed countries will further marginalise the countries of the third world - thus narrowing their opportunities in the race for development. It is essential, therefore, that we reinforce and re-invigorate our efforts to transform our stagnant economies into more dynamic ones. We must move towards achieving collective self-reliance an important element in our efforts to seek the restructuring of the world economy. Development is not only possible but a must, and the developing countries can play a key role in determining the future of the world.
South Asia houses one-fifth of the world’s total population. The region is endowed with vast natural resources and is rich in skills. This holds great promise for economic development. There is no reason why the SAARC region cannot achieve its full potential for economic growth through cohesive policies to broaden the range of inter-dependence and complementarily among the member states.
Excellencies,
You will recall that at the Fifth SAARC Summit held in Male’ last year, you signed the SAARC Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. It has yet to be enforced, and I hope that all member states, who have not yet done so, will soon ratify the convention to enable early implementation of its provisions. In this connection, I am happy to note that the Maldives ratified the convention in January this year. At the Male’ Summit, we declared 1991 as the SAARC Year of Shelter. We also agreed to draw up a national plan of action for the survival, protection and development of children, based on the recommendations of the World Summit for Children. And we launched 1991-2000 as the SAARC Decade of the Girl Child. I would like to specially mention here that my Government has dedicated 1991 as the Year of the Maldivian Child and has embarked on a wide ranging programme of activities to improve the lot of our children. In just a few days from now, we shall be holding a national conference on children to endorse that programme.
At the Male’ Summit, we also took a number of other important decisions to streamline SAARC activities and make them more effective. The Study on Trade, Manufactures and Services, has been discussed by our Foreign Secretaries and is awaiting your endorsement. I am sure you will consider this aspect of cooperation as a matter of prime importance since it will have a direct bearing on the alleviation of the poverty prevailing in most of our countries and on their growth prospects. As I mentioned earlier, our region has a considerable amount of economic potential in terms of human, technological and natural resources. So what better means than changing trade patterns and increased economic cooperation amongst us to harness this enormous potential for the common benefit of our peoples?
Honourable Ministers, you will also be reviewing the progress in the Integrated Programme of Action launched at the Dhaka Summit. Similarly, this meeting will take stock of the five new areas of cooperation designed to increase people to people contact agreed at the Bangalore Summit. Progress achieved in promoting people to people contact is already raising new hopes and expectations among the South Asian peoples. Indeed, our Association can gather momentum only when people of the region tend to regard it as a vehicle for mutually beneficial activities. Let us, therefore, focus on this vital issue of interaction at the level of the ordinary peoples, wherein lies the success of SAARC.
With these remarks, Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the privilege and pleasure of declaring open this Ninth Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers. I wish you every success in your important deliberations.
Thank you.