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SAARC discusses expansion

COLOMBO: As senior officials of the SAARC wound up the two-day programming committee meeting in preparation for the August 2 and 3 summit, the regional grouping is believed to be engaged in an informal debate on the pros and cons of expanding the membership.

According to diplomatic sources here, the subject figured informally during talks . “The opinion among the member-countries is divided at the moment. All one could say at this juncture is that the issue is on the table for a possible debate at a future stage.”

The SAARC was created in 1985 as a seven-member organisation with Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as the founding members. In 2007, Afghanistan was inducted as the eight member.

The Association in 2005 created a category of countries with observer status. China, the E.U., Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mauritius and the U.S. are the observers.

The representations from Australia and Myanmar would be considered at the summit.

As per diplomatic sources, some of the neighbouring countries in the region with observer status in the SAARC have expressed a desire to become full-fledged members.

The argument of those in favour of expansion of SAARC by including some of the neighbouring countries in the region is that it does not conflict with the charter and gives a boost to the Association. Those who advocate a more cautious approach are of the view that the Association would lose its distinctive identity with inclusion of countries outside the South Asia region even if they are contiguous to the region.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretaries of the SAARC nations began arriving here to take part in the meeting of the Standing Committee on July 29 and 30.

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