DATE=7/31/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236330
TITLE=SAARC SUMMIT (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  LEADERS OF SEVEN SOUTH ASIAN NATIONS HAVE CALLED FOR THE 
ELIMINATION OF ALL NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND HAVE POSTPONED PLANS FOR 
TURNING SOUTH ASIA INTO A FREE TRADE AREA BY 2001.  V-O-A 
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS FROM COLOMBO ON THE END OF
A THREE-DAY REGIONAL SUMMIT. 

TEXT:  A DECLARATION ISSUED BY THE SEVEN LEADERS SAYS THE SPREAD 
OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAN  NOT BE CHECKED UNLESS EVERYONE DISMANTLES
THEIR ARSENALS.  THE LEADERS CALLED ON ALL NUCLEAR WEAPONS STATES
TO HOLD NEGOTIATIONS ON DISARMAMENT AND THEY CRITICIZED THE 
RECOGNIZED NUCLEAR STATES FOR MAINTAINING HUGE NUCLEAR ARSENALS.

THE DECLARATION FOLLOWS NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY BY PAKISTAN AND 
INDIA, WHO TOOK PART IN THE THREE-DAY SUMMIT.  THE TESTS PROMPTED
CONCERNS OVER INCREASED TENSIONS IN SOUTH ASIA. 

TURNING TO ECONOMIC MATTERS THE SUMMIT LEADERS PUSHED BACK A PLAN
TO TURN SOUTH ASIA IN TO A FREE TRADE ZIBE BY 2001, BUT SAID THEY
WANTED TO FINALIZE THE PLAN FOR UNRESTRICTED TRADE BY THAT YEAR. 
NO  NEW DATE WAS SET FOR THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT TO COME INTO 
EFFECT.

LAST YEAR'S SUMMIT ESTABLISHED THE TARGET OF 2001, BUT A 
COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS TOLD THE SUMMIT THAT THE DATE WAS  NOT  
REALISTIC.

THE LEADERS DECIDED TO SPEED UP TARIFF CUTS ON GOODS TRADED AMONG
THE SEVEN COUNTRIES UNDER A PACT CALLED THE SOUTH ASIAN 
PREFERENTIAL TRADE AGREEMENT. THE LEADERS ALSO SET A TARGET OF 
WIPING OUT THE MASSIVE POVERTY IN SOUTH ASIA BY THE YEAR 2002.

THE SUMMIT BROUGHT TOGETHER THE LEADERS OF INDIA, PAKISTAN, 
BANGLADESH, SRI LANKA, BHUTAN, NEPAL AND THE MALDIVES.  THE 
COUNTRIES MAKE UP THE SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL 
COOPERATION, OR SAARC.  CRITICS SAY THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS 
MORE THAN 12 YEARS OLD, HAS FAILED TO ADRESS THE NEEDS OF THE 
MORE THAN ONE-BILLION PEOPLE IT REPRESENTS.  SOUTH ASIAN LEADERS 
SAY THEY ARE DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN, GIVEN THE MANY 
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS THE VAST SOUTH ASIAN REGION HAS.  
(SIGNED)

NEB/DAB/MMK

31-Jul-98 8:52 AM EDT (1252 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.