ZCZC
BSS- 27
INDIA-COVID-19-VIDEO CONFERENCE
SAARC leaders likely to join video conference tomorrow to fight
Coronavirus, report
NEW DELHI, Mar 14, 2020 (BSS) – Leaders of South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member states is expected to join a video
conference tomorrow for “chalking out a strong strategy to fight
Coronavirus”.
“The video conference of SAARC leaders to frame a strategy to counter
coronavirus, mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is expected to be held
on Sunday,” the Hindustan Times, a vernacular Indian daily, reported today
citing sources familiar with the development.
All member states of SAARC including Bangladesh have endorsed the proposal
made by the Indian premier on Friday. Pakistan, the last member state to
agree, has said its de-facto health minister will join the video conference.
In a tweet message on Friday, Prime Minister Modi proposed that the
leadership of SAARC nations chalk out a strong strategy to fight Coronavirus.
“We could discuss, via video conferencing, ways to keep our citizens
healthy,” he tweeted.
Modi said, “Together, we can set an example to the world, and contribute to
a healthier planet as our planet is battling the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus”.
“The South Asia, which is home to a significant number of the global
population, should leave no stone unturned to ensure our people are healthy,”
he added.
Hours after Modi’s tweet, leaders of SAARC including Bangladesh gave reply
supporting the Indian premier’s proposal towards collective efforts against
the coronavirus outbreak that had spread over 121 countries and territories
infecting over 134,300 people.
Pakistan announced shortly after midnight on Friday that Zafar Mirza, the
special adviser on health to Prime Minister Imran Khan, would join the video
conference.
Citing the sources who preferred not to be named, the Hindustan Times
reported that the decision of video conferencing among the SAARC leaders was
conveyed to India through diplomatic channels.
They told the newspaper that the video conference is expected to be held by
Sunday afternoon. Logistics for the exercise and the agenda for discussions
were being finalized, they added.
“This exercise shouldn’t be seen as a revival of SAARC. This is a measure
aimed at bringing together regional countries to tackle a common challenge,”
the paper quoted sources as saying.
The people noted that Pakistan’s decision to field only an adviser to the
prime minister reflected its reluctance to engage at the highest level with
India, it reported.
The heads of government of the other six SAARC members are expected to join
the video conference, the report said.
BSS/AIM/ARS/2017 hrs