A long way to go yet
The D-8 organisation comprises states which share a number of concerns as well as aspirations. These are countries where despite significant peculiarities the governments are elected. Further, despite being at different levels of development all face common challenges which are peculiar to developing countries. The D-8 members are keen to cope with them through mutual cooperation. Meanwhile, with the passage of time other pressing problems have arisen which necessitate their joining hands to find solutions. Extremism and militancy in its multifarious shapes and local variations pose danger to these countries, though in some cases it is felt to be more of a potential than an immediate threat. Being an international rather than a regional organisation, D-8 has moved rather slowly to achieve the objectives it had set before itself fifteen years back when it was formed.
With the developed world, especially the EU, still passing through economic travails, the exports by developing countries are shrinking. This requires countries of the D-8 to take measures to boost up trade among the eight nations. Consultations have to be held on the required groundwork without which progress on the issue cannot be ensured. Issues like visa liberalisation, simplification of customs procedures, closer cooperation between private sectors, operationalisation of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and free flow of goods were naturally high on the agenda discussed on Thursday. The participants discussed the opening of banks, joint ventures, free flow of goods, services and people, joint investment fund, Islamic banking and investment, small and medium enterprises and regional connectivity. The summit also adopted the organisation’s charter and the D-8 Global Vision.
All the eight countries were duly represented at the summit, though only five heads of state or government attended. It was noted that the documents adopted were by and large based on pledges and commitments while no decisions with clear scheduling frames were announced. There were some concrete bilateral developments though. Ahmadinejad reiterated Tehran’s commitment to take its relations with Pakistan to new heights without any fear, indicating the completion of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline by 2014. He also suggested convening a joint meeting of Pakistani‚ Iranian and Afghan Ulema to deal with the menace of terrorism. Indonesian Minister for Trade assured that the PTA with Pakistan will not only be signed, it would be operational in the next two weeks, giving boost to the mutual trade.
The D-8 organisation also needs to ensure that democracy does not remain merely a matter of form in its member countries. It is equally important to ensure that human rights are protected in the member countries.
