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EU seeks observer status at SAARC

Diplomatic Correspondent

Already SAARC has agreed "in principle" for China, Japan to be observers

NEW DELHI: The European Union has sought to become an "observer" at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), official sources told this correspondent on Friday.

The November 2005 SAARC summit in Dhaka had agreed "in principle" to the "desire" of the People's Republic of China and Japan to be associated as observers.

An April 2006 meeting of Foreign Secretaries of the seven SAARC nations also agreed that the United States and South Korea could be observers. The EU becomes the fifth entity seeking such status.

A declaration issued after the Dhaka summit last year had said on the issue: "They [SAARC leaders] also welcomed and agreed in principle with the desire of the People's Republic of China and Japan to be associated as observers. The Council of Ministers will decide the modalities in this regard at their 27th meeting in July 2006."

According to sources, a set of guidelines on how observers are to associate with SAARC is ready and would be put before the Council of (Foreign) Ministers when it meets in Dhaka on August 1-2. Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed will represent India.

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