Press Advisory

SAARC from the Inside Out:
Challenges of Cooperation in South Asia

OTTAWA, CANADA—An Indian and Pakistani former Secretary-General of South Asia’s regional cooperation organization will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the region.

Retired Indian Ambassador Kant Bhargava and retired Pakistani Ambassador Naeem U Hasan will speak to South Asia Partnership Canada’s Annual General Meeting at Volunteer Place, 330 Gilmour Street, Ottawa, Canada, at 8 pm on June 5, 2003.

They both served as the Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The mandate of SAARC is to provide a place for South Asian governments to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. Its aim is to accelerate the process of economic and social Member states. Members of SAARC are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It was founded on December 8, 1985.

Despite the noble goal, the effectiveness of this organization has come under question, due to conflicts between its members, such as the nuclear arms race and Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan.

South Asia Partnership Canada is part of an international network of community and non-government organizations which work to empower people from the grassroots up in South Asia and Canada.

For more information, contact:
Peter Moore
Communications Officer
South Asia Partnership Canada
613-241-1333 ext. 228
pmoore@sapcanada.org
https://www.sapcanada.org

For more information about the
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
http://www.saarc-sec.org/