The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday organised an interaction programme on Implementation Matrix based on the 18th Saarc Summit, held in November last year.

All Saarc focal points in the line ministries were present at the follow-up meeting to the first one held in March, according to the ministry.

Opening the meeting, acting Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi highlighted the need for regular follow up and implementation of decisions made by the summit from all quarters of government mechanism. “As we have made international commitments, it would be our duty to help implement decisions, fulfil the obligations and promote regional cooperation,” he said. Urging to give priority to Saarc commitments, he further called for sustained efforts on Nepal’s part, being the current chair of Saarc, to negotiate and navigate in the realm of a regional organisation taking into consideration sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and protection and promotion of national interests via regionalism.

Ramesh Prasad Khanal, joint secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed hope that such follow up interaction programmes would help bring stakeholders together to find ways and means to fulfil Nepal’s commitments to the regional organisation that ultimately serve the purpose of the Saarc for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

An action matrix, developed in line with the 18th Saarc Summit Declaration, was presented during the programme. Each ministry presented their position on respective actions. The meeting made several recommendations to further speed up the implementation process on part of Nepal.