1 week ago
Bhutan Nominates Sonam Topgay for SAARC Secretary-General Post
Bhutan wants Sonam Topgay to become the next leader of SAARC.
SAARC is a group that brings eight South Asian countries together.
Every other member country must agree before Topgay can get the job.
The current leader, Gholam Sarwar of Bangladesh, finishes his term in October.
SAARC has struggled to work because its members have political disagreements.
India says cross-border terrorism and a lack of goodwill have made cooperation difficult.
The group has not held a high-level meeting since 2020.
Bangladesh and the Maldives have recently called for SAARC to become active again.
Members may discuss the nomination during a meeting connected to the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Bhutan has proposed former Chief Election Commissioner Sonam Topgay to become SAARC’s 16th secretary-general.
Topgay’s nomination requires approval from all seven other SAARC member states.
The current secretary-general, Bangladesh’s Gholam Sarwar, is due to leave office in October.
SAARC has held no high-level meeting above the programming committee since 2020.
The decision could be made at a SAARC meeting alongside the United Nations General Assembly in September.
- Who
- Bhutan has nominated former Chief Election Commissioner Sonam Topgay; all seven other SAARC members must approve the nomination.
- What
- Topgay is being considered for the 16th secretary-general position of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
- Where
- The expected meeting is on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in the United States.
- When
- The current secretary-general’s term ends in October, and a decision is likely at a meeting in September.
- Why
- Bhutan is next in SAARC’s alphabetical nomination rotation, while the organization is seeking leadership amid a prolonged political stalemate.
SAARC Revival Advocates
India’s Concerns
Whether regional cooperation can resume
SAARC Revival Advocates
Bangladesh and the Maldives have called for SAARC’s revival, and Bangladesh urged SAARC to work hand-in-hand with the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
India’s Concerns
India says strong regional cooperation requires goodwill and has blamed Pakistan’s terrorist activities and political obstacles for stymying SAARC.
Key facts
- Nominee
- Dasho Sonam Topgay, Bhutan’s former Chief Election Commissioner
- Position
- 16th Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
- Current secretary-general
- Gholam Sarwar of Bangladesh, whose term ends in October
- Approval required
- All seven other SAARC member states must agree to Bhutan’s nomination
- Member states
- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka
- SAARC activity
- No high-level meeting above the programming committee has taken place since 2020
- Possible decision date
- A SAARC meeting alongside the United Nations General Assembly in September
Quotes
Randhir Jaiswal
Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, India
“When it comes to regional cooperation, India favours strong regional cooperation and has been working towards it for several decades now. Everyone in South Asia is aware of which country and what activities are actually stymying SAARC… After all, cooperation does require goodwill. ”
NDTV
Sources
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