DHAKA, 2 January 2005 — Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday phoned her Pakistan counterpart Shaukat Aziz and discussed possible dates for holding the 13th SAARC summit postponed in the wake of a continental earthquake that pounded the coastlines of three member-countries of the forum. Briefing newsmen on the talks, Foreign Minister Morshed Khan said Pakistan, as sitting chairman of the SAARC, would have discussion with heads of state and government of other member-countries and let host Bangladesh know about a new date in a day or two through the Foreign Office. “It (summit) should not remain in uncertainty,” Khan said, adding that Bangladesh has suggested the second week of February as an ideal time.
Asked about a specific date, the foreign minister said, “We will not insist or force ourselves, but Feb. 7, 8 or 9 will be fair enough.” The talks between the two prime ministers lasted about ten minutes during which they also discussed the loss and sufferings of the people in the countries hit by the natural calamity.
Khan said all the members of the seven-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation give importance to the regional forum and want the summit to be held.
The foreign minister also cited his talks with India’s External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh over telephone on Thursday regarding the situation. The Foreign Minister said his Indian counterpart appreciated the “wise decision” by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for deferring the summit in the wake of the massive human tragedy. Singh assured Khan of helping find new dates for the summit. He said Singh would also talk to current SAARC chair Pakistan for arriving at a consensus on the proposed dates.
