Fishermen want SAARC-like body to settle rows

Indian fishermen has approached the Centre as well as neighbouring countries urging them to form an organization along the lines of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).

The National Association of Fishermen (NAF) handed letters to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj as well as various embassies of the member nations: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Bangladesh to establish independent body to look after the issues that traditional fishermen face mid-sea, and our people must find representation on it. Several disputes tend to crop up when fishermen stray into each other's waters.

Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Fishermen-want-SAARC-like-body-to-settle-rows/articleshow/45783532.cms

18th SAARC Summit 2014 Full Declaration

“Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity”

 The President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan His Excellency Mohammad Ashraf  Ghani; the Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina; the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan His Excellency Tshering Tobgay; the Prime Minister of the Republic of India His Excellency Narendra Modi; the President of the Republic of the Maldives His Excellency Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom; the Prime Minister of Nepal Right Honourable Sushil Koirala; the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan His Excellency Muhammad Nawaz Sharif; and the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa;

 Having met at the Eighteenth Summit meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) held in Kathmandu, Nepal on November 26-27, 2014;

 Reaffirming their commitment to the principles and objectives of SAARC for ensuring the welfare and quality of life of the peoples of South Asia;

 Recognizing that after nearly thirty years of its existence, it is time to reinvigorate SAARC’s regional cooperation and revitalize SAARC as an effective vehicle to fulfill the developmental aspirations of the peoples of South Asia;

 Determined to deepen regional integration for peace and prosperity by promoting mutual trust, amity, understanding, cooperation and partnership;

 Declared as follows:

An Epic Handshake: Modi and Sharif

It was a picture that could have launched a thousand warships. Frozen in the cameras at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit in Kathmandu earlier this week were images of a visibly tense Nawaz Sharif striding to the lectern to speak, even as a grim-looking Narendra Modi read a magazine, apparently uninterested in what Pakistan was about to say. The image screamed a 'breakdown' - of the Saarc summit, the possibility of a meaningful declaration emerging from it, and an easing of tension in India-Pakistan relations.

Against this backdrop, much was made of the handshake between the prime ministers of India and Pakistan on the final day of the summit, causing the Kathmandu town hall, the venue of the meeting, to break into applause.

In reality, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif shook hands and exchanged pleasantries several times before this 'historic' handshake - once minutes before this picture was taken, in the holding hall, where the summit meeting was taking place and they waited for their names to be called out (in alphabetical order).

Later, at a retreat in Dhulikhel, the two prime ministers even took a walk together and talked without aides for a considerable amount of time.

Read more: LINK

18th SAARC Summit: Was it really a Flop Show?

The 18th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) concluded in Nepal's Capital Kathmandu with high expectation but less outcome. Though the three agenda namely energy, rail and road got more highlights in the 2014 summit held after three years but only energy agreement has been signed up after Pakistan, the second largest member country in SAARC opposed, citing of its internal issues which made the inter-connectivity between SAARC countries indefinite. -

See more at: http://www.dwdraju.com.np/2014/11/18th-saarc-summit-nepal-was-it-really-flop-show.html

Energy Deal Finalized in 18th SAARC Summit

 South Asian heads of state attending their first summit in three years reached a deal on energy sharing Thursday, but failed on two other economic agreements during a retreat where Indian and Pakistan leaders shook hands.

On the last day of the two-day summit, the leaders flew to a mountain resort near Nepal´s capital and agreed on electricity sharing among the eight nations through a common grid.

During the retreat, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, shook hands and talked in a group, but did have one-on-one dialogue, according to Nepalese officials.

Indian officials have already said exchanging courtesies among the leaders did not mean talks between the two South Asian rivals.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif looks at his watch during the 18th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Katmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit, the first since 2011, is meant as a forum to discuss regional issues, but is usually dominated by the rivalry between Pakistan and India. (AP )

"If they interact, exchange courtesies and exchange a few words, that does not translate as dialogue," Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said earlier.

The leaders of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka boarded helicopters from Katmandu to the retreat at Dhulikhel, 30 kilometers (19 miles) away. The area is a popular viewing spot of the Himalayan mountains.

The trip Thursday gave them a final chance to reach agreements that were expected to be signed during the meeting.

Officials indicated that Pakistan had made last-minute objections to energy sharing, roads and railways connectivity agreements because of incomplete internal procedures, but at the end, the energy deal was clinched.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit, the first since 2011, is meant as a forum to discuss regional issues, but is usually dominated by the rivalry between Pakistan and India. It is supposed to be held annually, but is often shelved due to member nations disagreeing on meeting dates.

18th SAARC Summit Decision [LIVE]

India signs #SAARC Agreement on Energy (Electricity) cooperation.
8 South Asian nations sign Agreement Framework on Energy Cooperation (Electricity). Nothing substantial was agreed.

Closing Ceremony of 18th SAARC Summit [LIVE]

We will update the closing ceremony of 18th SAARC summit in Kathmandu, Nepal. Keep on following us.