VP Yadav expresses concern about delay in holding 19th SAARC Summit

Kathmandu, Dec. 7

Vice President of Nepal, Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, has expressed his concern about the delay in organising the 19^th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and the failure to hold other important meetings.

"This delay and inability has affected the work of the regional organisation," he said with the newly appointed Secretary General of the SAARC, Mohammad Golam Sarwar while the latter called him at his office in Lainchaur in Kathmandu on Thursday.

According to his office, VP Yadav also expressed his belief that the SAARC member countries will soon reach an agreement to hold the summit.

 "As a founding member of the SAARC and the current chairman, Nepal is fully committed to advancing the SAARC process in the spirit of unity and solidarity among the member states," he said, "I am hopeful that the member states will speed up SAARC through cooperation and understanding."

During the meeting, Vice President Yadav and General Secretary Sarwar expressed their belief that the organisation will gain momentum through cooperation and understanding between the SAARC member countries, the Office of the Vice President informed in a statement.

Vice President Yadav said that Nepal has always been committed to the underlying principles and goals of the SAARC charter and said that SAARC can become an effective means to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development of the South Asian region. "The hope of the people of the South Asian region lies in the effectiveness of this regional organisation. Therefore, the member states should try to make this regional organisation dynamic and result-oriented," he said.

VP Yadav also thanked Sarwar for his ideas and plans to advance the SAARC process and expressed his belief that the latter could play an important role in making the SAARC process more active with his capable leadership and in facing the challenges faced by the region.

Secretary General Sarwar said that SAARC would move forward with the joint initiative of the member countries. "I will visit all the member states and try my best to advance the SAARC process. I express my gratitude for the commitment of Nepal and the Nepali people to advance SAARC," he said. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 8 December 2023.