BHUTAN INVITES THE SECRETARY TO ATTEND APRIL SAARC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000261 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL BT IN SUBJECT: BHUTAN INVITES THE SECRETARY TO ATTEND APRIL SAARC SUMMIT ¶1. The Royal Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi forwarded a letter from Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, inviting the Secretary to the Inaugural and Concluding Session of the Sixteenth South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to be held from April 28-29 at Thimphu. ¶2. Below is the text of the letter. We have forwarded the original to the Department and have sent a scanned copy to SCA/INSB. ¶3. Begin text: H.E. Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, Washington D.C. Your Excellency, I am happy to inform Your Excellency that the Royal Government of Bhutan will be hosting the Sixteenth Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Thimphu on 28-29 April 2010. As Your Excellency knows, the Summit is the highest level meeting of the leaders of South Asia to further strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation and also an opportunity to forge new regional initiatives to meet the various challenges facing the region. Since addressing the adverse impact of climate change has become the most pressing concern of the region, the members of SAARC have agreed that the theme for the Sixteenth SAARC Summit will be climate change. As Bhutan is hosting a SAARC Summit for the first time, it is my special privilege and honour to invite Your Excellency to the Inaugural and Concluding Session of the Sixteenth SAARC Summit on 28-29 April 2010 at Thimphu. We value the cooperation and association of the Observer countries to SAARC and look forward to welcoming you to Bhutan. A copy of the guidelines for participation of Observer in SAARC activities is attached for your kind reference. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. //signed// Ugyen Tshering Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thimphu, Bhutan Guidelines for participation of Observers at Sixteenth SAARC Summit Inaugural and Concluding Sessions i) Observers may be invited to public opening and closing sessions of the Summits. ii) Observers, represented at Ministerial level, may make brief statements in public opening sessions, with prior consent of the Chair. The statements should be consistent with the provisions of the SAARC Charter. iii). Observers represented at non-ministerial level, if they wish to, may circulate a written statement with the prior consent of the Chair. iv). The working language of SAARC is English. v). In view of time pressure, all statements are requested to be kept brief, (5 to 7 minutes). vi) Local hospitality will be provided to the Leader of Observer Delegation. Local hospitality includes accommodation, meals, transport and one Protocol Officer. vii) Observer Delegations requiring assistance with Visa and Flight Reservation are requested to contact the nearest Royal Bhutanese Embassy or at the following address in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thimphu: Mr. Ugyen Dorji Email: ugyendorji@,mfa.gov.bt; ugendoriyahoo.com viii) The Sixteenth SAARC Summit will be held on 28-29 April 2010 at the National Assembly Hall, Thimphu. ix) Observer Delegations are requested to send one Pole Flag, NEW DELHI 00000261 002 OF 002 one Table Flag and one Car Flag to the nearest Royal Bhutanese Embassy. End text. ROEMER