18 February 2014, Maldives; The Sixth Special Session of the Standing Committeebegins today in Bandos Island Resort, the Maldives.
The Sixth Special Session will principally focus on matters pertaining to cooperation with the SAARC's Observers. As part of its working program, the Sixth Special Session will, inter alia, deliberate on the matter of admitting new Observers to the SAARC.Furthermore, the session will also consider proposals by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea on matters relating to cultural cooperation. The report on the Sixth Special Session is to be adopted at its conclusion.
The Standing Committee, as provided under the SAARC Charter, is comprised of the Foreign Secretaries of the SAARC Member States. To date, the Standing Committee has held five Special Sessions, on a special requirement basis. To this effect, theendorsement by the Council, at its the Thirty-Fourth Session, of the recommendation of the Thirty-ninth Session of the Standing Committee, to review all matters pertaining to SAARC's engagement with its Observers, provides a basis for the Sixth Special Session of the Standing Committee.
ENDS.