SAARC 2015 Expanding Horizons and Forging Cooperation in a Resurgent Asia The New Delhi Statement on SAARC 2015 and Asian Resurgence © Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, March 2007 Published by: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung India Office K-70B, Hauz Khas Enclave New Delhi Email:
[email protected] Edited by: Kant K. Bhargava and Mahendra P. Lama Designed and printed by: New Concept Information Systems Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi ISBN 81-7440-065-6 Contents Foreword iv Preface vi Background Paper 1 Inaugural Address by I.K. Gujral 17 Group Reports 23 New Delhi Statement 45 Annexures: 56 (i) Programme (ii) List of Participants & Special Invitees (iii) List of Written Papers and Presentations Related Publications 71 Foreword As part of its programme for the promotion of regional cooperation in South Asia, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung organised the Conference on SAARC 2015: Expanding Horizons and Forging Cooperation in a Resurgent Asia in February 2007 in New Delhi in collaboration with Ambassador Kant K. Bhargava, former Secretary-General of SAARC, and Prof. Mahendra Lama, Chairman, Centre for South, Central, South East Asian and South West Pacific Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The main thrust of the Conference was that the SAARC as an entity and its member states must prepare themselves well for leveraging the opportunities arising from the current resurgence in Asia. The Background Paper for the Conference was prepared by FES collaborators, Mr. K.K. Bhargava and Prof. Mahendra Lama. The structuring of the Conference was done in such a way that maximum time was made available to all participants for reflective discussions on key issues that were identified in advance for each of its Sessions.