On the occasion of the Twenty-first Anniversary of the founding of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), it gives me great pleasure to extend, on behalf of the Government and the people of the Republic of Maldives, and on my own behalf, sincere greetings and good wishes to the people of South Asia.
SAARC symbolizes the amity and cooperation amongst countries in South Asia. It has mad considerable progress in promoting the close friendship, peace and prosperity in the region. The coming into force of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) on 1 January 2006 proves the importance all Member States attach to the promotion of co-operation in the region.
While it is important to celebrate the achievement of SAARC, it is also equally essential to reflect on the problems that alleviation of poverty, along with the fight against terrorism, prove to be challenging tasks in the region. We must work together to achieve the objectives of SAARC, and for the betterment of the lives of our peoples.
Today, as we observe the twenty-first anniversary of SAARC, I wish to reiterate the firm commitment of the Maldives to the SAARC process and to continue to work together with all the Member States of SAARC to achieve the noble objectives of the Association.