(Surya Chandra Basnet/Kiran Bhattarai)
Kathmandu, Nov 8:
Former prime minister and finance minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said time
has come for the SAARC countries to rise above individual interests and focus
on economic connectivity to make the SAARC successful.
Talking to the National
News Agency (RSS) in light of the 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu,
former prime minister Dr Bhattarai said, "Narrow thoughts can not propel
the region ahead but the focus on entire human welfare."
According to him, the
south Asia has tremendous potential on economic and social developments, so the
member countries should best utilize the SAARC Summit. A work plan with
identification of the tools to development can be made.
He further said
political disputes should not shadow the economic prosperity.
The former prime
minister Dr Bhattarai who had attended the 17th SAARC Summit in
Maldives as the head of Nepal government, said a farsightedness and will power
among the SAARC countries are essential to unlock the potential of development
in the region ranging from the highest altitude of the world to the sea. The
thriving science and technology which is triggering globalization has further
encouraged the development of regional organizations, he added.
"Lack of
harmonious relations between big member countries- India and Pakistan- have
somehow slowed the progress in SAARC. Although the SAARC principle does not
entertain bilateral issues, the disharmonious relations between the two big
countries affect the development. Though the reality is bitter, unless the
relations between India and Pakistan are not improved, only efforts from the
small countries can not ensure SAARC achieve its goals."
Other areas the SAARC
should whet as Dr Bhattarai argues are communications, transportation, and
economic prosperity which could benefit Nepal well.
Tourism was important
area the SAARC could stress to unlock the potential of economic development in
the region. Once Nepal harnesses the water resources fully and expand
transmission lines, it could sell electricity to Afghanistan, Bhutan and
Bangladesh as well.
Likewise, it is
natural, he says, that the emerging economy China and the US do show interest
in the SAARC region as it is home to the huge human and natural resources.
In Nepal's case, much
dependence on single country for trade should be ended.
Dr Bhattarai also
underscored the need of full implementation of the SAFTA concept so that the
member countries could benefit more on trade and investment. RSS
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