SAARC Commemorates its First Decade
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) completed ten years of its existence on 8 December 1995. To mark its first decade, member countries organised various activities and programmes at the regional as well as national level. The SAARC Secretariat at Kathmandu also organised special programmes to mark the occasion.
The highlight of these activities was the Special Commemorative Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers held in New Delhi on 18 December 1995, at which the Ministers focused on the theme SAARC - Vision for the Second Decade. The then Prime Minister of India and Chairman of SAARC, P V Narasimha Rao inaugurated the session. In his inaugural address, Mr. Rao stressed the need to consolidate the gains of SAARC during the first decade and further strengthen interaction among member states to realise the full potential of their cooperation during the next ten years.
The Foreign Ministers in their statements recalled the significant achievements made during the first decade and acknowledged that SAARC has evolved into a viable institution. They agreed that a landmark of economic cooperation has been the operationalisation of SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA), and hoped that it would eventually lead to the realization of a South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA). The Ministers also reiterated their commitment to the eradication of poverty by placing the people at the centre of all development efforts. They felt that during the second decade, SAARC should consolidate the achievements of the past and build on them to achieve further progress in economic integration, poverty eradication and people-to-people contacts in the region. In their vision for the second decade, the Ministers emphasized on the need to harness the resources of the region in economic and social sectors. The Ministers planted trees at the Rajiv Smriti Van, New Delhi during the Commemorative Session.
Among other activities, all member countries telecast on 8 December 1995, the special SAVE TV program Songs from the SAARC Member Countries.
Other programmes and activities organised by member states to commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of SAARC included the following:
Bangladesh
The Department of Mass Communication, Ministry of Information and Bangladesh Shishu Academy jointly organised a SAARC Mela on 7-8 December 1995 at the Shishu Academy premises. The Mela included a SAARC Quiz competition for School children, childrens painting competition, childrens rally and a cultural function. The then Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Major (Retd) M.A. Mannan was the Chief Guest at the Childrens Painting Competition, while the then State Minister for Women and Childrens Affairs Mrs. Sarwari Rahman was the Chief Guest at the Childrens Rally, Cultural Function and Prize giving ceremony.
In Chittagong a separate Childrens Rally was organised with the then Fisheries and Livestock Minister, Abdulla Al Noman attended as the Chief Guest. A large number of children along with high officials and other dignitaries participated in the rally with great zeal and enthusiasm. On this occasion streets of all the Divisions were decorated with SAARC posters and banners. The climax of the SAARC Mela was a colourful Cultural Function in which children from SAARC countries participated. Certificates were distributed to the winners of different competitions held during the Mela.
Similar programmes were also held in all the divisional headquarters with great fervor.
The SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC) organised a seminar on 12 December 1995 at the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). The Defence Secretary of Bangladesh M. A. Hakim, was the Chief Guest at the inaugural ceremony of the Seminar. Additional Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Ahmad Tariq Karim attended the ceremony as Special Guest. The ceremony was presided over by the Director of SMRC M. H. Khan Choudhury.
While addressing the inaugural ceremony, the Defence Secretary identified SAARC as a matured and tested regional forum which has evolved through the years since May 1980 when the idea of regional cooperation was first initiated by the late President Ziaur Rahman. He expressed his belief that the scientists of the region would be able to work and study together at the SMRC and contribute to the advancement of the atmospheric science, and assist member states to provide better meteorological services. The Additional Foreign Secretary, in his address referred to meteorology as one of the many important dimensions of cooperation under SAARC having implications on the development, comfort and livelihood of the people of this region. The Director of SMRC in his welcome address highlighted the establishment of SMRC as a milestone in the journey of the people of this region towards self-sufficiency by creating an opportunity for the regional scientists for collective efforts and total participation in the face of inflation and growing economic boom around the globe.
The inaugural ceremony was followed by a technical session on Tropical Cyclones and South West monsoon over Bangladesh. The presentations generated lively discussions among the large number of professionals attending the technical session.
Similarly the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development in Comilla organised a seminar on 9-11 December 1995 to review the rural development and poverty alleviation projects/programm-es in Bangladesh and determine future strategies/activities for accentuating and accelerating them.
The three-day seminar was inaugurated by the former Director-General of BARD Azizul Haq. The seminar came up with several recommendations including the need for integration of population control with rural development efforts, and harmonization of poverty alleviation programmes with rural development projects. Strengthening of rural credit support systems and the role of cooperatives were highlighted in their recommendations.
A Food Festival commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of SAARC was held with large participation from Member States.
Several daily newspapers in Bangladesh brought out supplements to mark the occasion including special messages from the leaders of Bangladesh.
Bhutan
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dawa Tsering hosted a reception on 8 December 1995 to mark the SAARC Charter Day. Representatives from the SAARC Embassies and the national focal points of the Technical Committees attended the reception, which was held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Concerned about the growing demand for blood, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Health Division jointly launched an information campaign on the Blood Donation Programme conducted by the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital. Several posters and educational pamphlets were designed, printed, and distributed to educate the public on the programme, and to urge them to register themselves as donors. A book titled Three Stories on Blood was released on 8 December 1995.
An essay competition was also held among the students of the Royal Institute of Health Sciences on the topic Donate Blood - Save a Life. The best three entries were awarded certificates and cash prizes.
In order to enhance the students knowledge on South Asia and SAARC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Education Division conducted an essay competition and a quiz contest. All the high schools in the country participated in the Quiz Contest which was held at the Yangchenphug High School Auditorium from 6-9 July 1995. The winning schools were awarded educational books, and the students cash prizes. There were three categories in the essay competition - Classes V-VI. Classes VII-VIII, and Classes IX-X - which were open to all the schools in the country. The topics covered a wide range of subjects on SAARC and the region. Certificates and cash prizes were awarded to the three best entries from each category.
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary the weekly newspaper of Bhutan, Kuensel brought out a special supplement, which included a message by His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, King of Bhutan and also a message from the then SAARC Secretary-General Y K Silwal. In addition, the paper carried the highlights of an interview with the Foreign Minister of Bhutan Lyonpo Dawa Tsering.
The Bhutan Broadcasting Service aired a special programme on SAARC on 8 December 1995.
India
A SAARC Trade Fair was organised at the Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from 9-14 January 1996 by the Ministry of Commerce and India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry. All SAARC member states participated in the Fair.
The products displayed at the Fair included engineering goods, automobiles, gems & jewellery, leather goods and footwear, consumer electronics and consumer goods, food products, textiles & garments, jute and coir products, handicrafts, chemicals and pharmaceuticals etc. All participating countries had also set up their countrys food stall in the Trade Fair. The Fair received wide response from the business community as well as the public. Film shows and country shows were also presented during the SAARC Trade Fair.
A Special T.V. Programme on SAARC Decade Celebration was telecast on the National Network of Doordarshan on 8th December, 1995. A Special Programme on SAARC Quiz was also broadcast on All India Radio on 8th December, 1995.
An On-the-spot Painting Competition for children was conducted by National Gallery of Modern Arts, New Delhi on 24th December, 1995. About 300 children from three different age groups participated in the Competition.
India is planning to continue organizing activities and programmes to commemorate the decade
during 1996 as well. These would include Issuance of commemorative postal stamps, Essay
Writing Competitions, Special publication on SAARC and a SAARC Handicrafts
Exhibition.
Maldives
Among the activities organised in the Maldives was the issuance of a commemorative stamp to mark the tenth anniversary of SAARC, The stamp was officially issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fathulla Jameel. These stamps are available at Maldives Post Limited Male'.
A special message from President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was aired on TV and Radio and carried in leading newspaper. Likewise message of the then SAARC Secretary-General Y K Silwal was also broadcast.
Several schools organised special programmes to mark the occasion, one of them being a model SAARC Summit organised by a Primary School in Male.
Additional programmes are being organised in the Maldives throughout 1996 to commemorate the year.
Pakistan
Pakistan organised a variety of activities to commemorate the tenth anniversary of SAARC. Foreign Minister Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali Khan hosted a Reception on the Charter Day, which was attended by High Commissioners/Ambassadors and other officers of the SAARC Missions in Islamabad as well as officers of the Ministry and all focal/nodal points in Pakistan dealing with matters relating to SAARC.
A SAARC Walk was organised in Islamabad on 8 December 1995. Parliamentary Secretary, George Clement led the walk, which attracted a large number of people whose participation made the activity a grand success.
Pakistan also brought out a set of commemorative Stamps on the occasion. This stamps are available at Philatelic Bureau, Karachi, GPO in Pakistan. They can also be obtained from M/s. James Davis & Son Ltd., 45 Church Street, Rickman-sworth, England.
Special talk programmes and discussions organised by Pakistan Television (PTV) and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) and attended by leading personalities, focussed on the achievements of the last ten years and future challenges faced by SAARC. A special documentary programme on poverty alleviation was produced by the Lahore Centre of Pakistan Television.
The Ministry of Education organised an Essay Writing Competition on December 24, 1995 among college level students in Pakistan and prizes were awarded to the first, second and third best essays.
Leading newspapers carried special articles by well-known writers on achievements and future prospects of SAARC.
A SAARC Handicrafts Exhibition was organised in Islamabad on 21-22 December 1995, which was inaugurated by Foreign Secretary Najmuddin A Shaikh. The fifty two stalls set up at the exhibition displayed a variety of handicraft items. High Commissioners from member states of SAARC attended the inaugural function of the exhibition, which attracted a large crowd. The Ministry of Communications displayed at the Exhibition, a collection of postage stamps issued on special occasions relating to SAARC, viz. SAARC Summits/meetings. Similarly the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) put up a stall for its campaign of blood donations and health education. Music programmes organised with the participation of renowned folk artists was another feature of the Exhibition.
Pakistan is also planning to continue commemorating the Anniversary, through organising in 1996 such activities as Quiz contests on SAARC, symposia, tree plantation etc.
Nepal
The Postal Department of His Majestys Government of Nepal brought out a special postal stamp on 8 December 1995 to mark the Tenth anniversary of SAARC. The stamps are available at Nepal Philatelic Bureau, Postal Services Department, His Majesty's Govrnment of Nepal, Kathmandu.
Also the daily newspaper The Rising Nepal published a special supplement on 8 December 1995, which included messages from Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Foreign Minister Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani and the then Secretary-General Y K Silwal. The supplement also carried articles titled The South Asian Perspective and SAPTA gets implemented.
Nepal also broadcast/telecast special programmes on its national radio and television. These highlighted various SAARC activities and the role played by Nepal in the process of fostering regional cooperation among the seven member countries.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka also issued a Commemorative Stamp on the occasion of the tenth anniversary. The ceremony held on 8 December 1995 was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lakshman Kadirgamar; Minister of Posts and Telecommunication, Mangala Samara-weera; Heads of Missions of SAARC Member Countries in Colombo; Post Master General, Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other academics and dignitaries. In their speeches at the ceremony, the Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as the Foreign Secretary highlighted the achievements of SAARC during the past decade and shared their views on the future prospects for the regional organisation. Stamps can be obtained from the Director, Philatelic Bureau, Department of Posts, General Post Office, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka.
On 8 December 1995, the Ceylon Tourist Board organised tree planting ceremonies in Colombo and several provinces in the country. The tree planting campaign inaugurated at the Tourist Board premises was attended by the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Aviation, Nirupama Rajapakse; Representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rajakaruna, Additional Secretary of Tourism K. Marimuttu, Additional Director General J.F.R. Perera, Deputy Director General P T Perera and other officials of the Tourist Board.
Tree planting was also carried out at the Tourist Board resorts at Bentota, Bandarawela, Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura and Katara-gama. Similarly the North Central Provincial Council, conducted tree planting campaigns in several Tourist Hotels at Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa cities. The campaigns at Badulla and Kurunegala were organised by Uva Provincial Council and North Western Provincial Council respectively.
The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) broadcast a special feature programme on SAARC in Sinhala, Tamil and English. The leading newspapers in the country brought out special supplements to commemorate the First Decade of SAARC.
The commemorative activities in Sri Lanka will continue in 1996 with the holding of a seminar by the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on the theme SAARC into the Second Decade: Sri Lankas perspectives. Participants at the Seminar would include eminent scholars from Sri Lanka and the region.
Sri Lanka will also organize such activities as a SAARC Drumming and Dance Festival, Blood donation campaigns, photographic exhibitions, essay-writing competitions during 1996.
SAARC Secretariat :
In addition to the activities and programmes organised by the member states to commemorate the
Tenth Anniversary of SAARC, the SAARC
Secretariat in Kathmandu organised a Photo
Exhibition from 1-6 December 1995. The
Exhibition which was inaugurated by the Prime
Minister of Nepal, Sher Bahadur Deuba,
displayed a collection of photos of all major
SAARC events of the decade, including those
of all the Summits and other important
meetings and activities. The Exhibition also
included a section on stamps from member
countries issued on various SAARC themes.
SAARC Secretary-General hosted a reception on 8 December 1995 on the occasion of the SAARC Charter Day as well as to mark the Tenth Anniversary of SAARC. The Reception was attended by the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, other senior officials of the government of Nepal, SAARC Ambassadors, Heads of other diplomatic missions, UN and international Agencies and prominent media representatives.
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