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Friday, November 05, 1999, updated at 09:47(GMT+8) World Pakistan Calls for SAARC Summit as Scheduled Pakistan on November 4 called for holding the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit as scheduled, saying there is no precedent that the meeting is postponed because of any political developments. A Foreign Office spokesman opposed India's request to postpone the SAARC summit scheduled to be held in Kathmandu, Nepal, from November 26 to 28. "The (Pakistani) government is of the view that the summit should be held as scheduled for which invitations have been already personally delivered by the Nepalese foreign minister," the spokesman said in a statement. He said that in the history of the SAACR there is no precedent for the postponement of the summit, nor does the organization's charter provide for postponement, on account of political changes in any member state. The SAARC's "fundamental principles" are non-interference in the internal affairs of member countries, eschewing of engagement with political developments in individual countries and adoption of decisions by unanimity, said the spokesman. Pakistan, he added, appreciated that no other member country of the SAARC has moved for the postponement of the summit, which is a proof of their maturity and their strong belief in the collective interest of the region. Pakistan's Chief Executive General Pervaiz Musharraf, who took power after a coup three weeks ago, intends to take part in the regional summit in the place of ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Printer-friendly Version In This SectionSearch Back to top Copyright by People's Daily Online, All rights reserved |
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