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Highlights of SAARC Declaration

April 05, 2007 00:39 IST

Following are the highlights of the Declaration adopted at the 14th SAARC Summit :

Afghanistan inducted as eighth member of the Grouping.
SAARC Development Fund to be operational at the earliest.
Comprehensive pact on harmonising customs procedures to be finalised
Establishment of SAARC Standards Coordinational Board.
Agreement to combat terrorism, narcotics and psychotropic substances, trafficking in women and children and other trans-national crimes.
Need to overcome the challenges of poverty, disease, natural disasters and terrorism.
Agreement by member countries to work together to deal with these challenges in order to secure the region's collective prosperity
Agreement to improve intra-regional connectivity, particularly physical, economic and people-to-people connectivity
To establish SAARC Food Bank with participation of all SAARC countries

list .5in">The Food Bank will supplement national efforts to provide food security to the people of the region.

SAFTA to be implemented in letter and spirit.

Telecom tariffs to be rationalised on a reciprocal basis.

South Asian University to be set up in India.

Emphasised the need to develop a road map for a South Asian customs union and a South Asian Economic Union.

Uniform entry fee for SAARC country tourists to archeological and heritage sites.

Ask all WTO members to work for successful conclusion of the Doha Round.

SAARC scholarship scheme in ICT and related areas to be instituted.

SAARC nations for urgent conclusion of comprehensive convention on international terrorism.

Protection and conservation of environment as priority area.

Maldives to host the 15th SAARC Summit.