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CHARTER OF THE
SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION
We, the Heads of State or Government of BANGLADESH, BHUTAN, INDIA, MALDIVES, NEPAL, PAKISTAN and SRI LANKA; 1.
Desirous of promoting peace, stability, amity and progress in the region
through strict adherence to the principles of the UNITED NATIONS CHARTER and
NON-ALIGNMENT, particularly respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial
integrity, national independence, non-use of force and non-interference in the internal
affairs of other States and peaceful settlement of all disputes; 2..
Conscious that in an increasingly interdependent world, the objectives of
peace, freedom, social justice and economic prosperity are best achieved in the SOUTH
ASIAN region by fostering mutual understanding, good neighbourly relations and meaningful
cooperation among the Member States which are bound by ties of history and culture; 3..
Aware
of the common problems, interests and aspirations of the peoples of SOUTH ASIA and the
need for joint action and enhanced cooperation within their respective political and
economic systems and cultural traditions; 4. Convinced that
regional cooperation among the countries of SOUTH ASIA is mutually beneficial, desirable
and necessary for promoting the welfare and improving the quality of life of the peoples
of the region; 5. Convinced further
that economic, social and technical cooperation among the countries of SOUTH ASIA would
contribute significantly to national and collective self-reliance; 6. Recognising that
increased cooperation, contacts and exchanges among the countries of the region will
contribute to the promotion of friendship and understanding among their peoples; 7. Recalling the
DECLARATION signed by their Foreign Ministers in NEW DELHI on August 2, 1983 and noting
the progress achieved in regional cooperation; 8. Reaffirming their
determination to promote such cooperation within an institutional framework; DO HEREBY AGREE to establish an organisation to be known as SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR
REGIONAL COOPERATION hereinafter referred to as the ASSOCIATION, with the following
objectives, principles, institutional and financial arrangements: Article I OBJECTIVES The objectives of the ASSOCIATION shall be:
Article II PRINCIPLES
Article III MEETINGS OF THE HEADS OF STATE OR GOVERNMENT
Article IV COUNCIL OF MINISTERS 1.A Council of Ministers consisting of the Foreign
Ministers of the Member States shall be established with the following functions:
2. The Council of Ministers shall meet twice a year.
Extraordinary session of the Council may be held by agreement among the Member States. Article V STANDING COMMITTEE 1.The Standing Committee comprising the Foreign Secretaries
shall have the following functions:
2. The Standing Committee shall meet as often as deemed necessary. 3. The Standing Committee shall submit periodic reports to
the Council of Ministers and make reference to it as and when necessary for decisions on
policy matters. Article VI TECHNICAL COMMITTEES 1.Technical Committees comprising representatives of Member
States shall be responsible for the implementation, coordination and monitoring of the
programmes in their respective areas of cooperation. 2. They shall have the following terms of reference:
3. The Technical Committees shall submit periodic reports to the Standing Committee. 4. The Chairmanship of the Technical Committees shall
normally rotate among Member States in alphabetical order every two years. 5. The Technical Committees may, inter-alia, use the
following mechanisms and modalities, if and when considered necessary:
Article VII ACTION COMMITTEES
Article VIII SECRETARIAT
Article IX FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
Article X GENERAL PROVISIONS
IN FAITH WHEREOF We Have Set Our Hands And
Seals Hereunto. DONE In DHAKA, BANGLADESH, On This The
Eighth Day Of December Of The Year One Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty Five. Hussain Muhammad Ershad Jigme Singye Wangchuk Rajiv Gandhi Maumoon Abdul Gayoom Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq Junius Richard Jayewardene |