1.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized today 2nd follow up and interaction programme on Implementation Matrix based on the 18th SAARC Summit, held on November 26-27, 2014 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The first follow up and interaction programme was organized in March 2015.
2. All SAARC Focal points in the line ministries were present on the occasion. Focal points from Ministry of Finance, Trade and Commerce, Health, Women, Children and Social Welfare, Home, Co-operatives and Poverty Alleviation, Education, Youth and Sports, Forest and Soil Conversation, Physical Infrastructure, Industry, National Planning Commission, Urban Development, Science and Technology and Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation attended the programme.
3.Opening the meeting, Foreign Secretary Mr. Shankar Das Bairagi highlighted the need for regular follow up and implementation of decisions made by the Summit from all quarters of the Government mechanism. As we have made international commitments, it would be our bounden duty to help implement decisions, fulfill the obligations and promote regional cooperation, he said. Urging to give priority to SAARC commitments, he further called for sustained efforts on Nepal’s part, being the current Chair of the SAARC, to negotiate and navigate in the realm of regional Organization taking into consideration of sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and protection and promotion of national interests via regionalism.
4.Mr. Ramesh Prasad Khanal, Joint Secretary and chief of the Regional Organization Division (ROD), Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the participants from the line Ministries and expressed hope that such follow up interaction programmes would help bring stakeholders together to find ways and means to fulfill Nepal’s commitments to the regional organization that ultimately serve the purpose of the SAARC for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
5.An Action Matrix, developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in line with the 18th SAARC Summit Declaration, was presented during the programme. Each Ministry presented their position on respective actions related to their Ministries.
6.The Meeting made several recommendations to further speed up the implementation process on part of Nepal.
Regional Organization Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kathmandu, Nepal
September 04, 2015