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SAARC summit adopts Islamabad Declaration
Islamabad, Jan 06: The 12th SAARC summit concluded here today adopting the `Islamabad Declaration` and landmark agreements committing the member nations to elimination of terrorism in all forms and manifestation and providing for free trade in the region. Terrorism cannot be justified: SAARC
The Islamabad Declaration contains the road map for South Asian cooperation and has a historic significance, Pakistan Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, said adding that Pakistan would do its utmost to implement the declaration collectively and individually.
The additional protocol on the review of the SAARC convention on suppression of terrorism 1987, which pledges itself to elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations in the region, was described by Jamali as "another landmark" agreement.
Terming the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)
agreement as a "watershed" accord that would reinvigorate
regional cooperation, Jamali said SAARC had made good progress
and South Asian Preferential Trade Agreements would benefit
the people of the region immensely.
Vajpayee, Jamali, Sri Lankan President Chandrika
Kumaratunga, Nepales Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and
Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonop Jigme Y Thinley later posed
for photographs clasping their hands in unison.
Thanking the heads of state and government for their
cooperation in reaching the agreements, Jamali said SAARC
symbolised the aspirations of the people of the region for
progress and for a better future.
He said SAARC should also play a role in greater
mutual understanding and good neighbourly relations and
meaningful cooperation for peace and stability which were
essential requirements for facing multifarious social
challenges.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who will
takeover the as chairperson of the grouping next year, thanked
members for their decision to hold the next summit in Dhaka in
January 2005 and hoped the agreements reached would lead to
greater cooperation in the region.
Maldivian Foreign Minister Fathulla Jameel represented
is country at the concluding ceremony.