President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has sent a message on the occasion of this year’s SAARC Charter Day.
The President’s message reads as follows:‎
“As we mark the Thirty Second Anniversary of the founding of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), it gives me great pleasure to extend warm greetings from the Government and the people of the Republic of Maldives to the Secretary General of SAARC, the staff at the SAARC Secretariat and people of all SAARC Members States.”
“SAARC Region represents a third of the world population, where the diversity ranges from the lowest lying island of the Maldives to the highest mountain in Nepal. This region may be small in geography but comprises of over a billion people – twenty percent of the world population. Despite the vast differences, we share common bonds of culture and history. We have found a common goal – to promote peace, prosperity, and progress in the region.”
“Over the past thirty two years, SAARC has diversified into newer areas of cooperation. Despite many challenges, the importance of this organization has in fact grown. It is for us to make our work more effective, to keep it relevant and to move ahead with more vigor. We have all achieved considerable advancements, more so in some areas than others. It is important to evaluate what SAARC has accomplished as a regional organization and identify our achievements as well as the challenges faced in the past years.”
“To unlock the true potential and reap the benefits that our region has to offer, it is imperative to improve connectivity for enhanced cooperation, and deeper integration within the region. Liberalization of trade and realization of our true potential in this area will also come more naturally from greater connectivity. Focusing more on increasing trade in this neighborhood will have far more benefits for all of us.”
“While we continue to work towards the progress of our nations, it is important also to focus on some of the challenges that we face. Time and again we have highlighted the need for coordinated efforts in addressing climate change and natural disasters. We cannot also forget the threats we face daily relating to terrorism. It is a menace that is threatening to engulf the world bit by bit; our region has been no exception. Our leaders need to come together and take a firm stand, and not let the terrorism break us apart, but bring us closer; not let the threat deplete our economies but find innovative methods to combat and prevent terrorism.”
“These global issues are not limited to any particular country or region, and South Asia region is not immune to any of it. Therefore, in order to address these issues, and combat them, we as a region need to come together, help each other and support each other. It requires greater will from all our Members States.”
“As we commemorate this important day, let me assure the full commitment of the Government of Maldives to the members of SAARC and the organization as a whole, as well as to the SAARC ideals and our commitment for strengthening regional cooperation towards improved economic status and a peaceful region. It is my sincere hope that we put aside our differences, and work together as an organization to be able to meaningfully contribute towards improving the welfare and quality of life of our people.”
“I wish SAARC and the region a prosperous future.”