The Hindu : International : Dhaka proposes dates for SAARC

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 05, 2005

International

International

Dhaka proposes dates for SAARC

Haroon Habib

DHAKA: Bangaldesh Foreign Minister, M Morshed Khan, has telephoned his counterparts in New Delhi and Islamabad to discuss the dates for holding the stalled summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) here.

Mr. Khan has proposed two sets of dates, September 4-5 or November 13-14, for holding the 13th summit, which was postponed twice. Diplomatic sources said that in his tele-talk with Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, Mr. Khan said Dhaka sent the proposed dates to Islamabad, the current chair of SAARC, for securing the concurrence of the member states.

Bilateral issues

Mr. Singh assured Mr. Khan that he would confirm the dates in a day or two. On bilateral issues, the two Foreign Ministers agreed to resolve all irritants through dialogue. They also agreed to take steps to keep the border peaceful.

This is the second direct contact between them after their meeting in Jakarta on the sidelines of the Afro-Asian Summit last month. Mr. Khan also invited Mr. Singh to visit Dhaka, preferably before the SAARC summit. An invitation had been sent to him.

The Foreign Minister also expressed his profound shock at the death of the Indian General and Bangladesh's Liberation War hero, Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora, and recalled his contributions in 1971.

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