The meeting of the 33rd SAARC Council of Ministers got under way in Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan with a call for closer cooperation amongst the member countries and effective implementation of the decisions taken in various areas b y the regional organization. Expressing similar sentiments the External Affairs Minister S.M Krishna said the need of the hour is to identify ways and means to make SAARC more dynamic component for the larger Asian resurgence.

Krishna described terrorism as a very serious challenge facing the entire South Asian region. He said that India support all the decisions that were taken at the Home Ministers meetings in Islamabad last June with regard to cooperation among the member states to combat this menace . He also extended full support for decisions and guidelines on the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme. Me Krishna said that he was also looking forward to the early finalisation of the draft agreement on promotion and protection of investments. He said that this will give flip to trade in the region. He also said that trade under SAFTA has crossed the 1.2 billion dollar mark; this is well below its potential.

AIR correspondent says that proposal for liberalizing Visa Exemption Scheme , cooperation in combating terrorism in South Asia region , security related issues , progress made in the implementation of regional Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), connectivity and economic integrations of the region are expected to be discussed at the meeting. The two day meeting of the Council which comprises Foreign Ministers from the member nations will take stock of progress made in the implementation of various initiatives taken so far and set the tone for the next SAARC summit in Male in November. The maritime security proposal mooted by Sri Lanka and Maldives is also expected to be discussed. Ways to accelerate the pace of implementation of SAFTA, FOOD security and some other initiates are also expected to be discussed. The Council of Ministers will consider the outcome and proposals made during the meetings of the Home, Finance, Transport and Tourism Ministers of the SAARC countries.