Address
by the Hon'ble Foreign Minister
Seminar on "Bangladesh - India Relations:
Context of SAARC and Emerging Global Scenario"
organized by CDRB, Dhaka; 3 p.m., 6 April 2006
Chairman,
CDRB
Excellencies
Distinguished Guests, Discussants
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalamu
Alaikum and good afternoon to all of you.
I
am indeed very happy to be here. Let me first of all
thank Dr. Shelly and CDRB for organizing this seminar
on such a topical issue. We have just successfully
concluded the Hon'ble Prime Minister's visit to India.
Prior to that, in November last, the 13th SAARC Summit
was held in Bangladesh with equal success. It is in
this context that this Seminar assumes great significance.
I would like to take this opportunity to share a few
thoughts with you on Bangladesh-India relations in
the context of SAARC and the emerging global scenario.
Bangladesh
and India are close neighbours whose relationship
is based on many commonalities: shared history, geographical
proximity, ideas, traditions and culture. The bonds
between our two countries were indelibly cemented
during our War of Liberation in 1971. In subsequent
years, our relationship saw its ups an downs as is
perhaps natural for two neighbours. In recent times,
our efforts have been focused on remaining engaged
at all levels, for the mutual benefit of our two countries.
In
recent months, you will have noticed a series of high-level
bilateral interactions on key issues. Last year, the
Indian Ministers for External Affairs, Water Resources
and Petroleum and Natural Gas visited Bangladesh.
From our side as well there were a number of important
visits including my own. The height of all these interactions
was, of course, the meeting of the two Prime Ministers
on the sidelines of the 13th SAARC Summit in November
2005. Since our two countries were in continuous touch
with each other, it helped in carrying forward the
relationship to newer heights.
The
just concluded visit of the Hon'ble Prime Minister
provided an opportunity to discuss, in a frank and
candid manner, the entire gamut of our relationship.
At the conclusion of this visit, I can tell you all
that our bilateral relations are now on a solid footing,
grounded in reality and motivated by a common desire
to work together for the good of our people. A cardinal
factor that must be underlined was recognition that
the two countries deal with the government in power
and eschew domestic politics. The two sides expressed
their resolve to maintain high-level political dialogue.
In this context the two leaders warmly recalled their
fruitful meeting in Dhaka during the 13th SAARC Summit,
which was followed by the current bilateral meeting.
They recognised that Bangladesh as current Chairman
of both SAARC and BIMSTEC would be succeeded by India
in both the regional groupings. Thus the momentum
of high-level contact would be meaningfully sustained.
At the same time, the two leaders underscored the
importance of making full and effective use of the
existing institutional mechanisms and to ensure that
they would meet not only regularly but also more frequently
and their outcome would be monitored by the political
leadership on a continuous basis.
That
the meeting was held in a constructive and upbeat
mood is highlighted by several other positive factors.
Two important agreements were signed: (i) the Revised
Agreement on Trade and (ii) Mutual Cooperation for
Preventing Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances. A third agreement on the
Promotion and Protection of Investment was finalized;
but its signature was delayed due to last minute procedural
hurdles.
There
was a free and frank exchange of views during the
visit, with both sides placing their major concerns
on the table in a spirit of objectivity, openness
and candor. By ring-fencing their concerns, there
was a tacit understanding to seek advances towards
resolution even on an incremental basis. There was
strong optimism that a process of forward momentum
had been activated. Thus critical issues pertaining
to trade, water sharing, adverse impact of water diversion,
activities of insurgent groups, militancy and counter-terrorism,
border control and management, movement of people
across borders and land boundary issues were all firmly
placed on the table. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment
to work closely together to find mutually satisfactory
solutions to the problems raised. They have agreed
to take them up at meetings of established institutions
on a regular and more frequent basis.
While
expressing their satisfaction over the successful
hosting of the 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka in November
2005, the two leaders agreed that the positive outcome
of the Summit would enable SAARC members to achieve
specific economic and social objectives and thereby
advance the regional economic agenda.
Perhaps
more important than the substantive agenda was a visible
eagerness in addressing theses issues. This is perhaps
best illustrated by the tone set by the Indian Prime
Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh when he stated following
the Ceremonial Reception accorded to the Bangladesh
Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at the Rastrapati
Bhaban that "a strong and prosperous Bangladesh
is in the interest of India and the region".
Prior
to the visit, I mentioned to the press that we would
like to avail "the train of opportunity."
After returning from New Delhi, my feeling is that
we have not missed that Train.
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
The
deepening bilateral engagement augurs well for the
process of promoting regional cooperation.
The
Thirteenth SAARC Summit witnessed a major leap forward
for regional cooperation in South Asia. Its outcome
was more focussed, shorn of rhetoric, action-oriented
and time-bound, compared to the previous Summits.
This demonstrated a desire to mutually benefit through
collaborative regional action.
Public
perception persists that SAARC has delivered little.
Let me however highlight seven major accomplishments
of the Dhaka Summit, to underline how SAARC is moving
towards a paradigm shift:
First,
SAARC's third decade (2006-2015) was declared
as one of implementation. While its first two
decades were devoted to drawing the member states
to a common platform, shaping the instruments of regional
cooperation and building institutions, the next decade
seeks to expeditiously implement actions and to make
SAARC truly a 'people's organization'. The leaders
also decided to articulate a broad-based Vision for
the Third Decade of SAARC. In the coming years,
there will be an increased emphasis on regional orientation
in all the activities and programmes and on forging
partnership among all stakeholders.
Second,
expansion of scope of SAARC. The process of
meaningful cooperation in SAARC has generated interest
in countries in the neighbourhood as well as among
our development partners. So far, the SAARC Charter
did not allow induction of States - either as new
members or, as Observers. For the first time, Afghanistan
is being included as a new member state. China and
Japan have been accepted as observers. Last month,
Republic of Korea and the US have also formally conveyed
their interest to join SAARC. I am confident, the
involvement of the major economies in SAARC will indeed
usher in an era of concrete project-based cooperation
in SAARC.
Third,
priority to focus for the first time on hardcore
economic areas of cooperation. The SAFTA Agreement
has been operational, as of 1 January 2006, following
the push given by the Summit. The first SAFTA Ministerial
Council is being convened in Dhaka to address key
issues, including the para-tariff and non-tariff barriers
and harmonized standards. SAFTA is the first step
towards the ultimate visions of a South Asian Economic
Union (SAEU). Preparatory steps to that end are being
visualized.
Fourth,
cognizance of deeper challenges in the social sector,
affecting the lives of the ordinary South Asian man,
woman and child. The leaders emphatically reiterated
their commitment to tackle endemic poverty in the
region and decided to:
-
Intensify national-level implementation of the SAARC
Social Charter, with considerable focus on women and
the girl child;
-
Redouble efforts to address the 22 SAARC Development
Goals and realize those within the SAARC Decade of
Poverty Alleviation (2006 - 2015).
-
Focus on development of human resources, by ensuring
quality and spread of education and skills development;
-
Effectively tackle the spread of health emergencies.
Fifth,
South Asia's environmental challenges.
The leaders decided to work towards a Regional Environment
Treaty; and also declared 2007 as the Year of Green
South Asia, to combat natural disasters through
region-wide afforestation. A Framework for Disaster
Management and Preparedness has already been worked
out last February in Dhaka.
Sixth,
an appropriate funding mechanism. SAARC leaders agreed
to establish a broad based SAARC Development Fund
(SDF), with three windows namely economic, social
and infrastructure. The Social Window includes a SAARC
Poverty Alleviation Fund. A blueprint of the SDF has
already been prepared, having a corpus of over a billion
dollars and involving innovative partnerships.
Seventh
and finally, review of existing SAARC mechanisms
and institutions responsible for implementing decisions.
All aspects of functioning of the SAARC Secretariat,
the SAARC Regional Centres, and various structures
within the SAARC process and within the national governments
are being evaluated. The goal is to ensure coordinated
and effective implementation of the Summit decisions.
I
should add that the SAARC Foreign Secretaries are
meeting in Dhaka next week at their Fifth Special
Session to consider all these areas. They will also
finalise a Vision document, modalities for admitting
Afghanistan, guidelines for associating Observes and
Guests in SAARC and criterion for undertaking regional
projects.
All
these reflect the resolve among the South Asian leadership
to move forward with determination. Concrete cooperation
in some sectors is already underway to tap the potential.
Once realized, these may strengthen further the bilateral
relations between Bangladesh and India and between
other countries in South Asia.
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
All
of us believe that this century is the coming of age
of South Asia for more reasons than one. The issues
that are most likely to dominate the world in the
twenty-first century are sustainable development,
poverty alleviation, environmental protection, limiting
population growth, advancing democracy and human rights,
combating terrorism and preventing the use of weapons
of mass destruction. These issues converge in South
Asia and the latter's fate directly impinges on the
rest of the world as one-fifth of humanity lives here.
South Asia is thus a vital test case. If no progress
is made it will lead to a world of greater instability.
I
believe that all the countries of South Asia do have
a common stake and belief in the future of SAARC and
in their South Asian identity. I got a sense of this
during the last Summit. People have come to realize
the significance of South Asia's huge emerging market,
and its large and prospering middle class with good
entrepreneurial, technical and scientific skills.
In today's globalised world these assets have opened
the way for extensive economic and commercial opportunities.
In this context, SAARC retains a positive potential
for economic cooperation and remains a basic harmonizing
force for security and confidence building within
the region and beyond.
I
thank you, all.
