NEW DELHI: Leaders of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations have decided to make "tangible progress" in the next six months on four issues that affect their people's daily lives — water, energy, food and environment.

"We will work with international agencies to develop and implement viable cross-border regional projects in these four sectors... " Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced at the closing session of the 14th SAARC summit.

Unusually, the agreement between the eight-member regional grouping refers to a specific timeframe of six months and the decision to approach international lending agencies to implement these concrete projects.

Agreements signed

Two agreements — one on setting up a South Asian University in India and forming a regional food bank — were signed in the presence of the SAARC leaders.

Iran was also formally accorded "observer status" by the regional grouping.

"I believe that a new dawn is breaking out over South Asia and that we are set to fulfil the promise and vision of the SAARC," the Prime Minister said in the presence of the other seven South Asian leaders.

A declaration issued by the leaders emphasised the need, at an early date, to develop a roadmap for a South Asian Customs Union and a South Asian Economic Union in a "planned and phased manner".

Calling for finalising an agreement in the services' sector "at the earliest," the declaration wanted the implementation of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement in "letter and spirit".

"They stressed the need for ensuring market access through smooth implementation of [the] trade liberalisation programme and directed the SAFTA bodies to review the progress on a regular basis... successful implementation of SAFTA will catalyse other areas of regional economic cooperation," the document said.

Development fund

The leaders held that the SAARC Development Fund should be "made operational" at the earliest and resources mobilised from both within and outside the region. "They emphasised the importance of decision-making and working of the fund being consistent with the SAARC Charter."

In a strong statement against terrorism, the leaders called for the "urgent conclusion" of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism. They agreed to "work on the modalities" of implementing the provisions of existing SAARC conventions to combat terrorism, narcotics smuggling and other transnational crimes.

"They expressed their commitment to take every possible measure to prevent and suppress, in particular, financing of terrorist acts by criminalising the provision, acquisition and collection of funds for such acts, including through front organizations and also to counter illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, trafficking in persons and illicit arms," the declaration read.

Sri Lankan offer

Sri Lanka has offered to hold a meeting of legal advisers to examine India's initiative to draft a SAARC convention on mutual assistance in legal matters before the second meeting of SAARC Home Ministers to be held in October 2007.

The 15th SAARC summit will be hosted by the Maldives.

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