A two-day conference of parliamentarians from the SAARC nations, organised by the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), today called for mutual cooperation and promoting understanding for conflict resolutions. Nearly 100 parliamentarians from eight SAARC nations, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, are participating in the conference, which is expected to adopt a formal “Shimla declaration”

tomorrow.

Inaugurating the conference, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee called for a roadmap by the SAARC countries to tackle the basic issues of poverty alleviation, health, education and women empowerment, instead of creating an atmosphere of suspicion and misunderstanding. For this, he counselled the SAARC nations to pursue the social charter. The Speaker also referred to the South-Asia Free Trade Agreement for achieving development goals and increasing regional trade.

Pointing to threats to peace in the region, the Speaker said, “We must join hands to neutralise forces inimical to peace and prosperity in the region.” He also highlighted the role of media and asked for an increase in interaction.

He also spoke on the free flow of information among SAARC countries for removing the atmosphere of suspicion and misunderstanding among the nations. “This can be made possible only when we allow more and more people, including students, teachers, professionals and journalists to visit respective countries,” he said.

The Speaker, on the role of parliamentarians, said the people look to them for ventilating their grievances and so the parliamentarians enjoyed the status of opinion leaders and opinion moulders. He also highlighted the role of the media in exposing public authorities, including the parliamentarians, who indulge in unethical and corrupt practices.