The Meeting of Ministers
to Initiate the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme
(SACEP)
At Colombo on 25th February, 1981 .
Having considered the report of
the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP)
Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting convened at Bangalore
, March, 1980,
Having further considered the
report and recommendations of the Meeting of Officials
to Initiate the South
Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) held at
Colombo , 18-21 February 1981,
Noting the possibilities of the
occurrence of severe ecological disequilibrium and the
threat of environmental degradation in the Region,
Noting also the warm support of
their countries in the aims and aspirations of the proposed
Programme, as expressed at the foregoing meetings, in
contacts among themselves and with UNEP, and the wealth
of capability and expertise available within the Region,
Noting in addition the offer of
the Government of Sri Lanka to provide the facilities
for the Secretariat of SACEP, the offers of the Governments
of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Iran, Pakistan and
Sri Lanka to serve as Focal Points for Programme development
and implementation in selected subject areas, and the
interest shown by the Governments of Bhutan, Burma, Maldives
and Nepal,
Conscious of the readiness of their
countries to co-operate and extend mutual assistance
to each other in matters of environmental concern, to
contribute through the application of their resources,
to the work of the Focal Points and, in the case of Sri
Lanka, to the Secretariat of SACEP,
Taking note
of the active interest and possibilities of support
from various donor countries, international financing
institutions, agencies and bodies,
Recognising
the pioneering nature of the proposed co-operative
programme and the organisational arrangements thereto,
Commending
the significant contribution and imaginative initiative
of the Director of the Regional Office of UNEP as noted
by the Bangalore Meeting and the Meeting of Officials
at Colombo ,
Appreciating
the firm support and encouragement extended by the
Executive Director of UNEP in this regard,
DECLARES:
1 Its decision to establish a co-operative
programme to be known as the South Asia Co-operative
Environment Programme;
2.Its endorsement of the agreed
institutional arrangements, the over-all programme content,
and technical co-operation and the financing arrangements;
3. Its resolve to sustain, strengthen,
and utilise to the fullest, for the benefit of the peoples
of their countries, the agreed programme and the arrangements
for its implementation;
4.Its intention
to foster the Programme as essential for the promotion
of human welfare, development and amelioration of poverty
in the region;
5.Its commitment to work out a
harmonious balance between the process of development
and resources of nature;
6.Its conviction that this Programme
and the co-operative arrangements thereto, could provide
a valuable basis for mutual cooperation, in the fields
of social and economic development;
Calls upon:
1. The interested donor states, international financing
institutions, agencies and other bodies to extend their
support readily and in imaginative and concrete terms,
keeping in mind the importance of maintaining the momentum
in implementing a Programme of such far-ranging significance;
2. The United Nations system, UNDP in particular and UNEP,
to assist SACEP, as required, with financial support, technical
assistance, information, and guidance in the implementation
of the Programme;
The member states of the SACEP region to see in these
a worthy cause with goals and objectives fully capable
of attainment through their common perceptions, friendly
co-operation and mutual assistance
