ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: The Saarc Council of Ministers on Saturday finalized the agenda of the 12th Saarc Summit and agreed on draft text of 'Islamabad Declaration' which has been submitted to the South Asian leaders for approval , Chairman of the Council, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, announced here on Saturday.

Addressing a special Press briefing at the end of the Council's meeting on Saturday, he said draft text of 'Islamabad Declaration' incorporated regional cooperation in the economic and commercial affairs, poverty alleviation, science and technology, social development, cultural interaction, environment, fight against terrorism, enhanced links in the areas of information and communications, and peace and stability in South Asia.

"The substantive work done during the Saarc preparatory meetings clearly indicates the making of a truly historic summit," Mr Kasuri declared, underlining the "spirit of give and take" and goodwill that marked the meetings.

The Council also approved a comprehensive report of the Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation.

Referring to the Social Charter, Mr Kasuri said it would herald a new era in the area of social cooperation among Saarc member states. The Charter draws up broad ranging targets for poverty alleviation, population stabilisation, empowerment of women, youth mobilisation, human resources development, health and nutrition, and promotion of human rights, he elaborated.

He said the Safta framework agreement that had been finalized by the Council was a landmark decision. Mr Kasuri endorsed the view that for free trade free movement, particularly between Pakistan and India, was also important. He said there should be relaxation in visa regime and reiterated Pakistan's offer for increasing the strength of personnel at the two High Commissions to make this possible.

Talking about the Additional Protocol to the 1987 Saarc Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, he said the new instrument contained measures for combating financing for terrorism in pursuance of UN Security Council Resolution 1373.

"The finalization of Additional Protocol is a clear manifestation of the desire of all Saarc countries to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestation," the foreign minister emphasised. He specially acknowledged the very important role played by Sri Lanka in this regard.

In reply to a question on the Additional Protocol with reference to Kashmir, the foreign minister said Kashmir was a bilateral issue. The Additional Protocol ought to be seen in the multilateral context and not from the prism of Pakistan-India relations," he maintained.

To a question if during the summit Pakistan will make a reference to the Kashmir issue in the context of peace and stability in the region, he snapped back: "Wait for the prime minister's speech." He then said: "It takes two to tango. If you want peace, you need a peace partner."

When asked if the Council had taken note of the presence of foreign troops in the region, particularly in Afghanistan, and whether it had expressed any concern in this regard, Mr Kasuri said Saarc had not yet advanced to the level of taking notice of such matters.

Mr Kasuri said the expansion of Saarc was not discussed at the Council's meeting.

The Council mandated Saarc finance to examine the idea of South Asian Development Bank and to make recommendations on "early and eventual realisation" of a South Asian Economic Union, Mr Kasuri said.

Responding to a question on the possibility of Prime Minister Vajpayee's meeting with President Musharraf on the sidelines of the summit, Mr Kasuri at first said he did not have any knowledge of a request being made for a bilateral meeting. He hastened to add: "But that is not to say that it will not happen, lets hope it will."

On Pakistan's expectations from the regional summit, Mr Kasuri said: "We are in a very positive frame of mind." He also informed journalists that Pakistan would convene the 25th session of Council of Ministers in July 2004 and that the next Saarc summit will be held in Dhaka, in the first half of Jan 2005.