Academics see EU as model for cooperation
EU a good model for South Asia regional cooperation
Academics speak at a conference on improving regional cooperation
- ucanews.com reporter, Dhaka
- Bangladesh
- March 7, 2012
South Asian academics and diplomats have called for the region to follow in the footsteps of the European Union (EU) by cooperating more closely in the areas of food security, climate change and poverty alleviation.
They say 25 years after the founding of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the organization has not been functional and the region remains one of the world's weakest in terms of integrated cooperation and development.
This has mainly been the result of domestic politics, they said.
Their call came during a conference on EU-SAARC Cooperation organized by the Dhaka-based South Asia Youth for Peace and Prosperity Society in Dhaka earlier this week.
They suggested the SAARC forge stronger ties with the EU, which has helped Western Europe make wars and conflict things of the past and fostered strong economic, social and cultural cooperation.
Former Bangladeshi foreign secretary CM Shafi Sami said despite having a common history, language and traditions in South Asia, there are conflicts over the sharing of resources such as water.
Domestic politics also hinders regional cooperation, he said.
However, the region also has common challenges including food security, climate change and eradicating poverty, which should all be addressed to ensure people’s security, he said.
"It is no more about military or border security; it is people’s security that matters now," he said, noting that hundreds of millions of people in the region are malnourished.
Sami suggested that the SAARC, being a younger bloc, learn from the EU, which has left aside domestic politics and supervised and implemented regional projects for economic and social development.
Dr Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, first secretary of the Indian high commission in Dhaka, said in today's globalized world it is shared prosperity that can ensure peace and security.
The EU has strong relations with the South Asian nations, but the EU-SAARC relationship is not very strong, he added.
"Much more needs to be done here."
Aamer Ahmed Atozai, first secretary of Pakistan's high commission in Dhaka, said the concept of regionalism is getting stronger and all must pay attention to it.
"The greater the trade, the greater the trust," he said, suggesting more cross-border investment and exchange of technologies should take place within the region and – acting as a bloc -- with the EU also.
Imtiaz Ahmed, professor of international relations at Dhaka University, suggested learning from the EU's Schengen visa regime.
"But, in our region there is a serious problem. India and Pakistan appear to be at war even in cricket," he said.
Ahmed urged the younger generation to build a new region that goes beyond nationalistic and colonial ways of thinking.
They say 25 years after the founding of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the organization has not been functional and the region remains one of the world's weakest in terms of integrated cooperation and development.
This has mainly been the result of domestic politics, they said.
Their call came during a conference on EU-SAARC Cooperation organized by the Dhaka-based South Asia Youth for Peace and Prosperity Society in Dhaka earlier this week.
They suggested the SAARC forge stronger ties with the EU, which has helped Western Europe make wars and conflict things of the past and fostered strong economic, social and cultural cooperation.
Former Bangladeshi foreign secretary CM Shafi Sami said despite having a common history, language and traditions in South Asia, there are conflicts over the sharing of resources such as water.
Domestic politics also hinders regional cooperation, he said.
However, the region also has common challenges including food security, climate change and eradicating poverty, which should all be addressed to ensure people’s security, he said.
"It is no more about military or border security; it is people’s security that matters now," he said, noting that hundreds of millions of people in the region are malnourished.
Sami suggested that the SAARC, being a younger bloc, learn from the EU, which has left aside domestic politics and supervised and implemented regional projects for economic and social development.
Dr Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, first secretary of the Indian high commission in Dhaka, said in today's globalized world it is shared prosperity that can ensure peace and security.
The EU has strong relations with the South Asian nations, but the EU-SAARC relationship is not very strong, he added.
"Much more needs to be done here."
Aamer Ahmed Atozai, first secretary of Pakistan's high commission in Dhaka, said the concept of regionalism is getting stronger and all must pay attention to it.
"The greater the trade, the greater the trust," he said, suggesting more cross-border investment and exchange of technologies should take place within the region and – acting as a bloc -- with the EU also.
Imtiaz Ahmed, professor of international relations at Dhaka University, suggested learning from the EU's Schengen visa regime.
"But, in our region there is a serious problem. India and Pakistan appear to be at war even in cricket," he said.
Ahmed urged the younger generation to build a new region that goes beyond nationalistic and colonial ways of thinking.
