KATMANDU (NEPAL): The old memories remind many events though the time gap is of only one year. The leaders of South Asian region sit together with a determination to go ahead through meetings, discussions, bi-lateral meetings and analyzing the relations and finally passed time in rest.
But many known faces are not found this year as the political scenario has changed a lot.
Now there are new faces, new political parties having different out look. Changes have appeared everywhere. Among the eight SAARC leaders, all are new except two--Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
If the curtain is removed, the days can be remembered but those leaders cannot be seen. The friends of 17th SAARC summit are not in the scene.
The concluding session of 17th summit held at Addu reminds the golden days. The new faces who will emerge in the upcoming 18th SAARC summit are Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaj Sharif, Afghan president Ashraf Ghani, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Maldivs’ President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
The heads of governments and states who participated in last summit are only portrait. In the political changeover the then Prime Minister Yusuf Raja Gilani, Afghan President Hamid Karjai, Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmey Y Thinley, Indian Prime Minister Manmohon Sing, Nepalese Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Maldivs’ President Mohamed Nasheed will not be here this time.
Despite all changes in the leadership new challenges are coming ahead on November 26. On that day the 18th SAARC summit will formally begin in Kathmandu.
The summit with most new faces and new challenges will be inaugurated by 76 year old, confirmed bachelor, Nepalese Prime Minister Shushil Koirala.
According to convention host Nepal is the chairperson of the 18th summit. The summit will be held on November 26-27. This is the 3rd time, Nepal has been organising the regional summit. Earlier in 1987 and 2002 Nepal hosted SAARC summit. Meanwhile Nepal has finished all the preparation for the summit.
The summit will be inaugurated at 9:30am on November 26. As the out-going chairman Maldivs’ President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom will propose the name of Koirala as the chairperson. After that, participating heads of governments and states will second the proposal, Koirala will deliver his inaugural speech.
After inaugural speech the chairperson will invite other leaders to deliver their speech.
As per convention, Pakistani PM Nawaj Sharif, Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bhutanese PM Tshering Tobgay, Indian PM Narendra Modi and the out-going chairperson Maldivs’ President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom will deliver speeches.
The chairperson Koirala will invite SAARC secretary general Arjun Bahadur Thapa and SAARC observer country’s representatives to speak in the summit. The observer states include Australia, China, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, USA and the European Union.
The convention as followed, the interval-period between the inaugural and concluding sessions the SAARC leaders meet each other in informal bilateral talks.
Though these meetings are informal the leaders can sort out any unresolved matters mutually.
On November 11, 2013 at Addu city of Maldives the 17th SAARC summit ended drafting four agreements and 20 points declaration.
** Heads of 7-state under same roof
BDST: 1527 HRS, NOV 24, 2014
