THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SMT. PRENEET KAUR)
(a) Yes.
(b) India noted that although the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Member
States (SAARC) defined guidelines for Observers at SAARC at the XV SAARC Summit in August
2008 (in Colombo, Sri Lanka), the existing guidelines are brief and do not provide enough
information to guide Observers in their interaction with the Member States of SAARC.
(c) Yes. India took the position at the XVII SAARC Summit, that a comprehensive review is
required on all matters relating to Observers.
(d) The Addu Declaration issued at the end of the XVII SAARC Summit on November 11, 2011
states that SAARC would âundertake a comprehensive review of all matters relating to SAARCâs
engagement with Observers, including the question of dialogue partnership, before the next
Session of the Council of Ministers in 2012â.