Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
New Delhi, September 5, 2003

Indian Members of Parliament today launched a South Asia Forum, which aims to create awareness about India's neighboring countries and to promote greater interaction between the civil society and the political class of the countries of South Asia.

Although the forum is at present focusing on the seven countries of South Asia such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, it intends to extend to Burma (Myanmar) and Afghanistan in near future.

The Forum's inauguration, held at the Parliament House in New Delhi this evening, was keynote addressed by India's External Affairs Minister Mr. Yashwant Sinha and participated by the Members of Parliament, diplomats from South Asia and other countries and special invitees.

Reiterating his call for movement towards a South Asian Union, the Indian foreign minister outlined his vision for a South Asia with a single economic area or one system/seven countries.

"I believe that a South Asia with one currency, one tariff regime and free movement of goods, services and people is well within the realm of possibility.South Asia should emerge as a region with comprehensive transport linkages by air, rail, road and sea. It must become a region where pluralism, tolerance, democracy and human rights flourish."

"India is willing to move forward rapidly with a South Asia strategy that has as its primary focus the economic integration of the sub continent. We would like to create in collaboration with our neighbors a South Asia growth alliance which will be a compact for an affluent sub-continent", the foreign minister added in his address.

Mr. Eduardo Faleiro, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the South Asian Forum said that the Forum has two-fold objectives. These are: to create awareness and improve relations on cultural, technological and economic fields in the countries in South Asian region and to encourage visits of lawmakers, opinion makers and media personnel to each other country".

The Forum currently has thirty one Members of Parliament, former Members of Parliament and experts across the political sections in India.

"It is our view that in not too distant future, Myanmar and Afghanistan should also become truly a part of South Asia. At the moment, there are some internal problems in the two countries. So, the idea can only be kept for as earliest as possible in the near future", said Mr. Faleiro.

"Myanmar has been part of South Asia for centuries. What is happening really at this point of time is there are internal problems, as we all know. We have been urging the Government of Myanmar for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and also for the restoration of democracy there. This is the interest of the peoples of Myanmar and interest of everybody else in this region", Mr. Faleiro told Mizzima News.