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Press Conference "South Asian Peoples Solidarity and SAARC"
 Saturday, 17 March 2007: SUPRO organized a Press conference styled "South Asian Peoples Solidarity and SAARC" at Dhaka Reporters' Unity, Dhaka on the eve of 14th SAARC Summit to be held on 2-4 April 2007 in New Delhi, India.
In the press conference SUPRO published 7 (seven) Media Briefing paper in Bangla & English on the following issues with specific demands related to SAARC countries. Journalists and media personnel of both print and electronic media were present at the press conference.
Please click to see the Media Briefing papers.
Press Release (Bangla)South Asia : Way Beyond 2015 Reshaping MDG to SDG (English),(Bangla ).
Climate Change : South Asian Leaders should Act Now (English),(Bangla )
Foreign Direct Investment: Foreign Remittance is Not for Profit Repatriation (English),
(Bangla )
Militarization in South Asia: Whose interest? Who pay for? (English),(Bangla ) .
Free Movement of Unskilled and Semi-Skilled Workers’ : SAARC should Identify a Common Position (English),(Bangla )
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SAFTA fais if not supporting to LDC’s capability (English),(Bangla ).
GMO free South Asia: Peoples demand for securing food sovereignty (English),(Bangla )
Let Civil Society Participate and Speak at SAARC Summit (English),
(Bangla ).
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South Asian Peoples Solidarity and SAARC: A confrontation free society to eradicate poverty
 On 3 March 2007, SUPRO organized a seminar at CIRDAP Auditorium, Dhaka, styled “South Asian Peoples Solidarity and SAARC: A confrontation free society to eradicate poverty” on the eve of 14th SAARC Summit to be held in New Delhi, India.
Ex Advisors of caretaker government, National political leader, Bureaucrats, Academician, Development workers, Student leaders and activists of different levels participated in the seminar. SUPRO published a draft position paper on above mentioned topic.
Please click to see the position paper ( Bangla), Press Release(Bangla), Presentation, Media Coverage & Seminar Proceedings .
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DAILY NEWS UPDATE
Saarc car rally reaches MumbaiThe Saarc Car Rally-2007 on Thursday reached Mumbai, the commercial capital to India, after covering over 8,050 kilometres roadway in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and India. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 07,2007:::
30-Point Saarc Declaration Adopted Nations to work for better regional connectivity The 14th Saarc Summit concluded in the Indian capital by adopting a 30-point declaration yesterday, which gave a wider mandate to promote peace and development in the region through greater connectivity in trade, movement of people and through flow of ideas. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 05,2007:::>>more>>::: New Age,April 05,2007:::>>more>>::: Financial Express,April 05,2007:::
Kabul keen to recruit Bangladeshi manpower to rebuild AfghanistanSaarc's new member Afghanistan has expressed interest in recruiting skilled manpower from Bangladesh while Sri Lanka has said it wishes to invest in Bangladesh's pharmaceuticals sector. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 05,2007:::>>more>>::: New Age,April 05,2007:::
Full text of Delhi DeclarationThe Heads of State or Government welcomed the entry of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan into SAARC. This was a historic moment as Afghanistan assumed its rightful place as a valued member of the SAARC fraternity. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 05,2007:::
Next summit in MaldivesThe 15th Saarc summit will be held in Male, the capital of the Maldives, in 2008. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 05,2007:::
Dhaka’s concerns reflected in New Delhi declarationEnvironment, women’s empowerment, good governance prioritised Most of Dhaka’s concerns, raised at the just-concluded New Delhi summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, were reflected in the New Delhi declaration adopted by the eight-nation summit on Wednesday.
>>more>>::: New Age,April 05,2007:::
Editorial
A new South Asia: Will it remain a dream?The current global environment demands a new South Asia that will truly be for the people and by the people of the region. >>more>>::: The Daily Star,April 05,2007:::
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Saarc Summit Leaders for delivery on trade deals, anti-terror commitmentThe 14th Saarc summit began in New Delhi yesterday with a call for tangible measures to deliver on the existing trade agreements, combat terrorism and alleviate poverty so the grouping graduates to an 'action-oriented' body.
>>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 04,2007:::>>more>>::: New Age,April 04,2007:::
CA calls for removing non-tariff barriersChief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday asked the larger South Asian countries to take greater responsibility to extend support to the region's "less-developed" nations and stressed the need for addressing non-tariff barriers to better integrate South Asian economies. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 04,2007:::>>more>>::: New Age,April 04,2007:::>>more>>::: The Financial Express,April 04,2007:::
Observers pledge full supportJapan, European Union (EU), China and South Korea, who yesterday participated in the opening session of 14th Saarc Summit as observers, extended their support and cooperation to the regional grouping. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 04,2007:::>>more>>::: New Age,April 04,2007:::
India to allow zero duty entry to LDCsIn a major step towards opening its markets, India yesterday announced that it will allow zero duty access to least developed countries (LDCs) of South Asia by the year end and reduce the sensitive list in respect of these nations while unilaterally liberalising visas for certain categories. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 04,2007:::>>more>>::: New Age,April 04,2007:::>>more>>::: The Financial Express,April 04,2007:::
Afghanistan becomes full member, India new chairIndia yesterday assumed the chairmanship of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) for the next one year, while Afghanistan became a full member of the regional grouping. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 04,2007:::
Sri Lanka for single Saarc currency
Asserting that the time has come to move away from 'fancy rhetoric', Sri Lanka yesterday said Saarc must become a Union and adopt a single currency for achieving its political and economic pursuits.
>>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 04,2007:::>>more>>::: The Financial Express,April 04,2007:::
Aziz dwells on making Saarc relevant
Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz yesterday announced a five-point roadmap to make the Saarc relevant to South Asians, saying that vitiated political atmosphere, disputes and mistrust slowed down the forum in gaining its desired goals. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 04,2007:::>>more>>::: The Financial Express,April 04,2007:::
Gayoom only S Asian leader to have attended all Saarc summitsMaldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is the only South Asian leader to have attended all the 14 Saarc summits.
>>more>>>:::The Daily Star ,April 04,2007:::
EditorialSAARC summit: list of regional problems is growingThe best connectivity is an intensified people-to-people contact. Democratic countries perhaps have nothing to lose – that is nothing to hide – from improved traffic from neighbouring countries. Some countries suddenly tighten their visa rules. An outcome of increased contact at people’s level is greater inter-cultural and inter-religious understanding and mutual respect. >>more>>:::New Age,April 04,2007:::
Saarc Summit starts today with high hopes on tradeThe 14th Saarc Summit starts off in New Delhi today with strong declarations being expected to come on trade and terrorism. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 03,2007:::>>more>>::: New Age,April 03,2007:::> >>more>>::: The Financial Express,April 03,2007:::
Amnesty urges Saarc to address HR violation Amnesty International urged a South Asian bloc Monday to agree on a human rights charter and work to fight widespread abuses, as leaders from eight nations gathered for a summit. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 03,2007:::
Dhaka to focus on social issues at SAARC summit: IftekharBangladesh will push social issues at the 14th SAARC summit and call on South Asian leaders to give the forum an institutional shape to enable common people to derive optimum benefit from it. >>more>>:::New Age,April 03,2007:::
Editorial
SAARC drifts off course The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation began its journey on December 8, 1985 with the express objectives, among others, to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life; >>more>>:::New Age,April 03,2007:::> >>more>>::: The Financial Express ,April 03,2007:::
SAARC: towards greater interconnectivity No doubt to say that SAARC is too important and could be more effective for its geopolitical relationship with surrounding countries and emerge as regional strength.
>>more>>:::New Age,April 03,2007:::
SAARC leaders urged to preserve natural quantum of river flowsBangladesh Paribesh Andolan, a non-governmental organisation working for protecting environment, has urged the SAARC leaders to adopt ecological approach for preserving the natural quantum of river flows among the member states. >>more>>:::New Age,April 03,2007:::
Saarc countries should synchronise dev plans to have same goals Foreign Affairs adviser tells The Daily Star
Saarc countries should synchronise their development plans to have same basic goals, said Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar A Chowdhury in an interview with The Daily Star on Sunday. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 03,2007:::
S Asia Media Commission for free info flow to be set upSouth Asian media leaders yesterday decided to establish South Asia Media Commission to facilitate free flow of information among Saarc countries while regional foreign ministers promised to liberate their visa regimes for journalists >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 03,2007:::
Fakhruddin-Manmohan Meet Vow to bolster bilateral link n the first ever meeting between Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last night in New Delhi, the two leaders hoped to take the relationship between the countries to a new and upward trajectory by reviving dormant bilateral structures. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 03,2007:::>> >>more>>::: New Age,April 03,2007:::
Saarc Summit Trade, connectivity, terrorism main focusThe forthcoming 14th Saarc Summit in New Delhi is expected to focus particularly on trade, terrorism and connectivity amongst the member countries. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 01,2007:::
Be more people-sensitive than to give primacy to tradeSaarc Peoples' Forum urges Saarc leaders
The 5th Saarc Peoples Forum (SPF) yesterday urged the leaders of Saarc summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi this week to be more people-sensitive than to give primacy to trade and economic issues. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 01,2007:::> >>more>>::: New Age,April 01,2007:::
'Form task force to implement Saarc Convention on Trafficking'A task force should be formed immediately to implement the Saarc Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution, said the speakers at a press conference yesterday. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 01,2007:::>>more>>::: New Age,April 01,2007:::
Saarc: Make human rights a priorityAs the leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) meet in New Delhi on April 3 and 4, the discussions will inevitably focus upon economics and regional security. At Saarc meetings, human rights problems in each member country have usually been treated as an internal matter. However, it takes only a quick survey of the region to see that there are many human rights issues that would benefit from mutual engagement and agreement. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 01,2007:::
Iftekhar-Pranab Meeting Dhaka asks Delhi for duty free access, removal of non-tariff barriersBangladesh yesterday asked for duty-free access for its goods to the Indian market and the removal of non-tariff and para-tariff barriers to reduce nearly $8 billion cumulative trade deficit between Bangladesh and India, when Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury met Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 01,2007:::>>more>>:::New Age ,April 01,2007:::>>more>>::: The Financial Express ,April 01,2007:::SAARC foreign secys approve South Asian Univ, regional food bank,Iran’s observer statusSaarc foreign secretaries yesterday discussed taking Safta to the next level by including a free trade in services and unanimously deciding to recommend the setting up of South Asian University, creation of Saarc Food Bank and granting Iran observer status. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 01,2007:::>>more>>:::New Age ,April 01,2007:::
South Asia holds summit,but unity elusiveSouth Asian leaders meet next week at a summit aiming to boost trade in a region that accounts for a fifth of the world’s population, but real progress is unlikely with domestic turmoil dominating national agendas. >>more>>:::New Age ,April 01,2007:::
ADB seeks observer status in SAARCDelhi has reservations about its inclusion The status of the Asian Development Bank’s inclusion in the SAARC process as an observer is uncertain in view of New Delhi’s reservations about the participation of an international financial institution into the regional grouping. >>more>>:::New Age ,April 01,2007:::
SAARCFINANCE meeting at Delhi tomorrow SAARCFINANCE meeting is to be held in New Delhi tomorrow (Monday), ahead of the SAARC summit, aiming to strengthen cooperation among member central banks. The SAARCFINANCE, a high-powered network, comprising the governor of the central banks and finance secretaries of the member countries, may discuss payment settlement system to facilitate business activities within the region. >>more>>:::The Financial Express,April 01,2007:::
Enlarged SAARC prepares for summit
Joining of superpowers as observers
to give fresh fillip South Asian leaders will concentrate on a raft of regional issues with economic connectivity topping the agenda when they will converge on the summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in the Indian capital from April 3. >>more>>:::New Age ,March 31,2007:::
Call to hold SAARC civil society meet
The Rajshahi unit of Sushasoner Jonno Procharabhijan (SUPRO) on Friday demanded holding of a special session of the civil society members of SAARC countries parallel to the SAARC summit meetings in order to focus people’s grievances and aspiration.
>>more>>:::New Age ,March 31,2007:::
Post Breakfast Make SAARC a success
In the last two and half decades we have had thirteen Summit meetings of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). In a few days, in the first week of April, we will have the 14th Summit meeting of SAARC in New Delhi. India will take over the responsibility of being the Chairperson of this Association. >>>> :::The Daily Star ,March 31,2007:::14th Saarc Summit Observers to address for the first timeRepresentatives of the five observers of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) will deliver speeches at the 14th summit of the forum in New Delhi on April 3-4 when Bangladesh hands over the Saarc chairmanship to India. Sources said China, Japan, South Korea, the United States and the European Union will attend all the meetings of the summit. This is for the first time in the history of Saarc that its observers are going to attend and address the summit. >>>CPD sees common ground for Saarc agri cooperation Staff Correspondent The premier non-governmental research organisation, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), has identified five major areas to strengthen agriculture cooperation among the South Asian countries Although the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) is committed to cooperation in agricultural development, there has been a little progress, CPD observed. >>>
India offers to share energy technology
Saarc energy ministers meet in Delhi India yesterday offered to share its technologies with other Saarc countries in energy sector projects, particularly in renewable energy segment and suggested country-to-country electricity grid interconnections for free flow of power across the region. >>>
Yunus for Saarc passport
Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus yesterday urged the countries of the South Asian region to introduce Saarc passport to facilitate easy movement of people across the borders. He said this will enhance cultural and other relations among the people of the Saarc nations which can immensely help poverty alleviation efforts as well. >>>
No Asian country on track to attain MDG targets
The Asia-Pacific region has done much to fight poverty, but no country is on track to meet a set of UN-agreed goals that range from stemming AIDS to reducing infant mortality, experts said Thursday. East and Southeast Asian countries had broadly reduced abject poverty, hunger, illiteracy and infant and maternal mortality, said Kim Hak-Su, head of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). >>>
Safta ministerial decides to address non-tariff barriersThe Safta Ministerial Council (SMC) has directed the sub-group on non-tariff measures (NTMs) to submit their recommendations by September this year when the next meeting of the Safta Committee of Experts (CoE) is scheduled to be held. >>>
Safta CoE meet kicks off in Kathmandu
The Safta committee of experts (CoE) started a two-day meeting at Saarc headquarters in Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital city, yesterday ahead of the Safta ministerial council meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow, the official sources said. >>>
Saarc business leaders see India a roadblock
Leading stakeholders in the Saarc region's trade viewed the Indian attitude as a major roadblock to boosting intra-regional trade. "Their (India's) mindset is to derive maximum benefit for them and corner others in the region through protecting their market by uniquely imposing NTBs (non-tariff barriers)," said a leading businessman from Sri Lanka, requesting anonymity. >>>
India to allow 2m pieces of RMG a year duty freeAnnounces Pranab Diplomatic Correspondent Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday announced duty-free access for two million pieces of readymade garments to India from Bangladesh every year. >>>
Implement SAFTA-plus agenda:business leaders South Asian business leaders concluded their conference here Sunday through adopting a 13-point declaration recommending SAARC leaders to implement a SAFTA-plus agenda for netting $20 billion worth of trade >>>
Saarc business leaders' meet begins today
FBCCI team off to Mumbai>>> Bangladesh appears on Indian list of doubtful FDI sources>>> FBCCI chief leaves for India>>> Free movement of journalists among SAARC nations favoured
A conference of editors of SAARC countries has exhorted all governments of South Asia to allow freer movement of journalists by issuing multiple entry long term visas and dismantle all border barriers to enable easy exchange of news media products, reports Associated Press of Pakistan on Monday>>> SAARC editors' meet to tackle key media issues, THE HINDU, 01 February 2007>>> Agenda for 14th SAARC Summit: Regional Economic and Political Cooperation Top Priority...., Citizenexpress.com >>> Indian minister due in Dhaka, The Gulf Times, 12 February 2007 >>> His visit to Pakistan aims at inviting Shaukat Aziz to SAARC conference: Parnab, Sunday January 14, 2007 >>>
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Other News
Bangladesh jittery about opening up service sector under SAFTA
Country to demand restoration of SAPTA tariff concessions Bangladesh will conduct a study on the benefits and risks of opening up the country’s service sector under the framework of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) as businessmen apprehend that this burgeoning sector may suffer in case of uneven competition right now.
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SAARC: Basic Documents
Country Poverty Profile: A Disaggregated Analysis
This article presents a Disaggregated Analysis of poverty and human development in the seven SAARC countries. >>13th SAARC Summit Declaration
The eleventh SAARC Summit was held 12-13 November 2005 at Dhaka in Bangladesh. The chief of state of seven countries met at the 13th SAARC Summit. They agreed to promote effective cooperation at all levels to realize the objectives and principles set out in the Charter of the Association For more information >>11th SAARC Summit Declaration
The eleventh SAARC Summit was held 4-6 January 2002 at Katmandu in Nepal. The chief of state of seven countries met at the 11th SAARC Summit. They commit altogether in the then situation in South Asia. Please click to see the declaration on 11th SAARC Summit >>SAARC: Areas of Cooperation
At the inauguration of the Association, the Integrated Program of Action (IPA) consisting of a number of Technical Committees (TCs) was identified as the core areas of cooperation. Over the period of years, the number of TCs were changed as per the requirement. The current areas of cooperation under the reconstituted Regional Integrated Program of Action which is pursued through the Technical Committees cover. >>SAARC Charter
The Head of state of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives and srilanka do here by agree to establish SAARC. >>SAARC Development Goals (SDG)
Eradication of Hunger Poverty, Halve proportion of people in Poverty by 2012, Ensure adequate nutrition and dietary improvement for the poor, Ensure a robust pro-poor growth process. >>SAARC Social Charter
In its historic ninth summit in Islamabad in January, 2004, the leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) signed the SAARC Social Charter (SSC) aimed at ensuring the basic rights of every citizen in the region. Though the media termed the signing a huge leap forward for the impoverished millions in South Asia, the Charter, in fact, fell short of the expectations of the people who had expected a much broader process of consultation within the region with citizens and civil society organisations in the preparation of such a historic document. >>
Agreement on South Asian Association for regional Free Trade Area (SAFTA)
The governments of the SAARC countries motivated by the commitment to strengthen intra-SAARC economic cooperation for trade and development for the benefit of their people, with full respect of independence and territorial integrity of all states. >>
SAFTA Rules of origin >>
Trends on MDGs in the SAARC Region
This paper provides a comparative analysis of the SAARC Region in terms of the achievement of the MDGs. >> |
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Activity news
Condemning Nepali King he is not welcome in Bangladesh!
Urging Indian leaders to take lead not to compromise in WTO Honkong,
Requesting SAARC leaders to take initiative that South Asian Poverty should not forgotten by world and demand of civil society participation in SAARC summit.
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Political Commitment is Necessary for Democracy and Human Right Based South Asian Society
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Dhaka 11th Nov. Dhaka Reporters Unity. SUPRO a net work 700 local NGOs and CSOs in Bangladesh presented their position in here today on the eve of ongoing SAARC summit. They condemn the Nepali king for his repressive role and they urged him to restore democracy in the country, they have expressed solidarity with the struggle of Nepali people. SUPRO leaders also requested and urged Indian leaders to take lead role for the interest of the developing countries and not to do compromise with the developed countries in WTO Honkong ministerial meeting. They also urged countries not to bow and united to the conditions of World Bank and IMF who are promoting blanket liberalization and privatization without looking its impact to poverty. They urged SAARC leaders to take poverty issue of South Asia in global level as here poverty density is so high which is per square kilometer 103 poor while in Africa it is only 13 people. They have mentioned that due to the economic growth of India and China, world community became forgetting the poverty of South Asia as it is observed that recent earthquake and tsunami disaster has got insufficient development assistance from developed countries. SUPRO leaders has also demanded civil society and NGO participation in SAARC summit like what has already provisions in UN summit, WTO, World Bank and IMF meetings, they mentioned that SAARC should not be a club a South Asian head (s) of states.
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South Asian Peoples Solidarity and SAARC: A confrontation free society to eradicate poverty
 On 3 March 2007, SUPRO organized a seminar at CIRDAP Auditorium, Dhaka, styled “South Asian Peoples Solidarity and SAARC: A confrontation free society to eradicate poverty” on the eve of 14th SAARC Summit to be held in New Delhi, India.
Ex Advisors of caretaker government, National political leader, Bureaucrats, Academician, Development workers, Student leaders and activists of different levels participated in the seminar. SUPRO published a draft position paper on above mentioned topic.
Please click to see the position paper ( Bangla), Press Release(Bangla), Presentation , Photos.
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A civil society round table held on the eve of the 13th SAARC summit in Dhaka on 23 December 2004, at the VIP Lounge of National Press Club. National political leaders, intellectuals and development workers along with the civil society from both local and national level participated in the round table to take a position on the above mentioned slogan.
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DAILY NEWS UPDATE
30-Point Saarc Declaration Adopted Nations to work for better regional connectivity The 14th Saarc Summit concluded in the Indian capital by adopting a 30-point declaration yesterday, which gave a wider mandate to promote peace and development in the region through greater connectivity in trade, movement of people and through flow of ideas. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 05,2007:::>>more>>::: New Age,April 05,2007:::>>more>>::: Financial Express,April 05,2007:::
Kabul keen to recruit Bangladeshi
manpower to rebuild Afghanistan Saarc's new member Afghanistan has expressed interest in recruiting skilled manpower from Bangladesh while Sri Lanka has said it wishes to invest in Bangladesh's pharmaceuticals sector. >>more>>:::The Daily Star ,April 05,2007:::>>more>>::: New Age,April 05,2007:::
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Created on 01/02/2007 10:03 AM by siraj
Updated on 04/13/2007 06:11 AM by polash
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| Latest News |
"Sovereignty, Friendship and Poverty Alleviation in South Asia"
A civil society round table held on the eve of the 13th SAARC summit in Dhaka on 23 December 2004, at the VIP Lounge of National Press Club. National political leaders, intellectuals and development workers along with the civil society from both local and national level participated in the round table to take a position on the above mentioned slogan.
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| News Coverage |
News Coverage on SAARC of SUPRO activities from the daily newspapers
on 12 November 2005
:: CGG condemns participation of Nepalese, Pak premier in SAARC summit- The Financial Express
:: Supro urges Gynendra to restore democracy- New Age
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