The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The council of ministers of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has decided to give observer status to Mauritius, an African country on the Indian Ocean.

"SAARC is an emerging power block. Mauritius and Australia have shown interest to become SAARC observers. And the decision has been taken to give Mauritius the observer status," Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said.

He was briefing reporters at the Foreign Ministry on his return on Sunday from the just concluded SAARC council of ministers' meeting in New Delhi.

About giving observer status to Australia, the Foreign Adviser said there is a new government in Australia. If the new government wants, Australia too would be made an observer.

He said the council of ministers also discussed in the meeting as to whether the regional organisation would give any more observer status. But no has been taken in this regard.

About the 500,000 tons of rice India committed to export to Bangladesh, Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury said the government has requested India to arrange the rice quickly and they assured to do so.

He said the Indian government wants to send the rice through state agency, but "we requested them to let us know the method."

He further informed that the council of ministers has decided to set up a SAARC development fund and establish at least one SAARC village in each member state, and accepted a Bangladesh declaration on climate change to be raised in Bali conference by Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayyum.

On climate change, the Adviser said that after the Bali conference, the SAARC ministers would come to Dhaka to discuss the effect of climate change in this region.

He said the next SAARC summit would be held in Sri Lanka, as Maldives is unable to host the summit due to elections in the country next year.

Replying to a query, the Foreign Adviser said there was no discussion with the Indian authorities about controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, now residing in India.

Asked about direct train service between Bangladesh and India, he said Bangladesh already sent a draft agreement to the Indians and requested them to respond quickly.

He said there was no discussion on SAARC transit issue in the meeting.

About the release of BRAC official Nurul Islam, the Foreign Adviser said his release came with the help of the Afghan government.

He said that during his stay in the Indian capital, he had meetings with the Indian Vice-President, Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister.

About India's offer to rebuild 10 cyclone-affected coastal villages, Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury said this proposal would be tied with the Comprehensive Development Programme announced by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed.

About manpower export to Korea, he said an agreement has been signed in this regard and the process of exporting manpower to that country would begin soon.