15th SAARC and next

by Sarath Wijesinghe

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The SAARC Summit ended with a positive note, but some grumbled of extravagance when considering the simultaneous transmissions of the classic Summit worldwide and the impact on the reputation, goodwill on tourism and the future of the country, the amount spent though enormous in our standards is permissible.

The benefits cannot be calculated in terms of money. We share the benefits and the ripple effects of the success story. Meeting of the regional leaders in private and public are rare, invaluable, and fruitful to everybody. Any tension among our neighbours have direct bearing on us politically and economically.

Tension and problems of the region may disturb our economy and political stability too, which will give rise to complicated results on the neighbours. SAARC expenditure is a burden but members are expected to contribute for the benefit of everybody.

After all China has spent 40 billion US dollars for Olympic - the highest spent ever. Even the west is amazed at the amount spent. But Chinese are not fools. They are careful about money, politically and commercially matured.

They are a world power and an emerging world economy trying to bypass other world economies. The 15th SAARC Summit has been a successful meeting of regional leaders. Personal interactions of leaders make a big difference when the countries go through difficult times.

Rare opportunity

Obviously this is a rare opportunity to iron out differences and cement new friendships. SAARC immensely helped in image building and strengthened personal and political bonds among member nations and leaders. We achieved many diplomatic victories through personal bonds of leaders.

Kachchativu, Indian Labour and international sea boarder issues were amicably settled in our favour by personal and family bonds between Madam Bandaranaike and the Gandhi Family. Meeting of Indian, Pakistan, and Afghan leaders in closed doors helps the region including us.

Our main problem is the North and East conflict for which the assistance for solution should come from our neighbours who understand our problems as most of them go through the same process. If and when there is peace we flourish. President Rajapaksa is doing his job on image building beautifully.

West is remote to us and do not appreciate and understand our problems. To win the war on terror and food shortages, the only salvation is our unity and consolidated efforts in all political and social areas. SAARC Bank, Food Bank, SAARC University, collective efforts to combat war and improve agriculture are steps taken in the correct perspectives by member countries and the benefits will be enjoyed by the ordinary citizen if these concepts and proposals are properly implemented.

In this regard President Rajapaksa carries the mantle and responsibility in the coming year. Steps taken at the initiation of Sri Lanka to adopt counter terrorism declaration as stated by the Foreign Minister in our Parliament indicates the effectual steps taken to benefit the common man who suffers most from this menace.

Key issues

SAARC agreed on all the key issues discussed and previously decided by declarations which are yet to be implemented. Food, energy, security, Terrorism, climatic changes, water, poverty alleviation were given top priority and strong focus was laid on taking collective action to confront food and energy hikes in the region as well as the scourge of terrorism.

The Colombo Declaration on the basis of partnership for growth for our people was considered and adopted. Sri Lankan President and the Foreign Minister have conducted themselves exceptionally well maintaining the highest standards of diplomacy. President’s presentation is clear, deep and with substance with a clear vision, which he presented clearly and eloquently effortlessly disappointing some who were in the audience.

challenges

President has three main challenges on targets to overcome or achieve within the next 365 days to prove his able leadership to 1/4th of the globe waiting for his contribution and the world over awaiting carefully the conduct of the emerging regional organisation namely

(a) the implementation of the Colombo Summit and/or prepare groundwork for working mechanisms

(b) Implementation and/or prepare groundwork for mechanisms for the previous declarations dormant and not put into practice and

(c) new vision, thinking on the development of the organisation by enhancing the mandate and taking the organisation through a new vision based on the needs of the peoples of the region.

For example (SAFTA) South Asian Free Trade Agreement we have to move from declaration phase to implementation. Food Bank is the other challenge as countries have to maintain food reserves.

India has food reserve of 153,200MT, Bangladesh and Pakistan will maintain 40,000MT while Nepal and Sri Lanka will have 4,000MT in the region which has a population of 1.5 billion people who will be worst affected in the forthcoming food crisis.

India’s coalition government is unable to take an independent decision on the Sri Lankan matter due to the dependency of small parties and provincial governments and tend to be unstable and weak governments except Sri Lanka which has a somewhat stable government due to the nature of the Constitution of Executive model.

Threat to region

LTTE is a threat to the entire-region. Sri Lanka is about to flush out the terrorist and finish the war by pushing the LTTE from the remaining one and half districts of the East. The resistance of the Tamil Nadu government to the Centre and the political process of the Sri Lankan Opposition and the TNA - the LTTE proxy party - and some Tamil parties in India tends to create unpleasantness between two friendly nations.

But the good news is that India has not pardoned Prabhakaran though we have pardoned Chandrakanthan the Child soldier turned Chief Minister. Prime Minister Singh has declined to meet Chandrakanthan due to previous close links with the LTTE, though reformed and entered the democratic process.

This shows India is tougher than us on war on terror. Though India is becoming a world power without the help of the other family members, for it to reach the highest the help of the other members are paramount.

Give and take policy and mutual trust is to be developed. She must command respect and love from neighbours by her conduct and by protecting the family members from external exploitation. Unity and self-help is the way forward to avoid external exploitation.

There is a fear that some agreements are not in the best interest of the neighbours due to the enormity of giant India. But the very same factor could be converted to the benefit of all members by integrating all sectors.

India has been magnanimous and changed for good. Good words and excellent diplomatic conduct of participants have cemented the long-lasting friendships and future plans and hopes on political and economical minefield.

It is our fortune that the leaders have now realised that the most ruthless terrorist organisation is the main threat to the region today and unanimously adopted and resolved to combat terror in the interest of the ordinary citizen who suffers most.

Success

Success of the organisation is measured from the short and long term benefits of the citizens of the region. South American Trade Block comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay has made great strides in regional integration and contributed to the prosperity of the region.

Though it started only in 1991 it has achieved a lot by contributing to the prosperity of 250 million people in these countries. It established a common Parliament and the grouping have eclipsed NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) an agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are at the doorstep of the organisation seeking membership after having seen the fast developments.

Unique problem

Our problems are confined and unique to us and we need not necessarily follow others, though it is to our own good to learn from the experiences of others. We believe in a home grown solution to the North and East issue and our political and social problems.

It is in our own interest that we must adopt home grown solution rather than following alien ones thrust upon us from those who do not understand us and our problems.

In the past, Summits have been postponed amid tension between India and Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka and Nepal and Bhutan. The behaviour and body language of the regional leaders indicate our friendship and close bonds will go forward. It is important to counter and minimise Bribery and Corruption in the region including Sri Lanka.

It is rampant and is a menace to the nation as number one enemy. Unless victorious in the war on corruption, we will not be able to achieve our targets. It is best to work together with neighbours, who too are facing similar problems.

Next Summit

The Next summit will be in the Maldives and President Rajapaksa and the Foreign Minister have a lot of homework to do and challenges to face, in formulating new policies and implementation of decisions taken previously. Dealing with international organisations is the most difficult part. UN, IMF and WTO are rigid and traditional organisations allergic to changes.

World Trade Organisation is supposed to be a democratic forum, with consensus decision-making of all its 153 members states but trade deals are make among a few countries and then they are forced on the rest. Only 35 Ministers were invited to Geneva recently.

The United States, EU, Japan Australia, India, China and Brazil met in secret. Fortunately India and China were in the internal ring may be due to their enormity and power. SAARC as a group should have access in these forms to air the voice of the people in the region. IMF too has its own agendas and tends to restrict and curtail assisting others as they now have enough trouble.

The reality is that these are exclusive clubs self-centred and selfish.

They do not genuinely help those in need unless they are benefited in some way and any help is linked either to the purchase of machinery or their experts who are experts of their economy and culture and trained to exploit the rest of the world. Most recent demands are to link human rights to aid.

Amazingly they demand perfect international standards by ratifying international conventions and instruments on human rights from Sri Lanka and not from any other country in the SAARC region. Conduct and attitude of some UN subsidiary organisations are questionable despite our seniority and position in the world family.

SAARC will be a vehicle to eradicate misunderstandings by collective effects and working together with one voice. For example SAARC can maintain its own human right standards so that West will point the finger at the region and the regional mechanism. On the whole we had a successful Summit this year and look forward to lead the region in the year to come.

The writer is a Solicitor in England and Wales and Chairperson SAARC study centre United Kingdom