Kathmandu, December 14
Officials of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation today held a video conference, paving the way for using internet-based technology for regional discussions in future.
A two-day special session of SAARC Programming Committee kicked off at SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu, with concerned officials of other seven member states Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka participating in the video conference.
The meeting was called to take a decision on the venue for the headquarters of the newly formed SAARC Environment and Disaster Management Centre, a wing set up by merging four regional entities Forestry Centre (Bhutan), Disaster Management Centre (New Delhi), Coastal Zone Management Centre (Male) and Meteorological Research Centre (Dhaka).
The Programming Committee meeting was held at a time when Nepal has been facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to absence of essential goods, including fuel and medicines, because of the blockade at border points.
Sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the SAARC Secretariat said the video conference was also held to discuss the ongoing blockade and the diplomatic stand-off between Kathmandu and New Delhi.
Nepal hosts the headquarters of the eight-nation regional group, while India funds almost one third of its expenditures.
Talking to The Himalayan Times, Joint Secretary Ramesh Khanal who heads SAARC Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs however, dismissed that the talks were held to discuss the blockade.
According to him, the meeting was scheduled to be held in July.
“It’s our first experience of using technology to hold a regional meeting,” Khanal added. “It was as lively as other regular meetings.
It has paved the way for such meetings in future, which not only saves time but also is cost effective.” Joint Secretary Khanal’s counterparts from all eight SAARC member-states, including India’s Dinkar Asthana, took part in the conference.
In today’s meeting, all four countries India, Bhutan, Maldives and Bangladesh have expressed interest to host the new regional centre, according to a source. Nevertheless, a deal on the matter is expected by tomorrow.
All SAARC decisions are based on consensus among all member states.
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