Saturday, January 8 2005 17:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan today (Jan 8, 2005) said all SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) countries except India have endorsed February 7-9 as the new dates to hold the summit of the regional grouping to be held in Dhaka which was postponed due to tsunami disaster.

"Bangladesh being the host country of 13th SAARC Summit meeting has proposed the dates from February 7-9," and Pakistan in its capacity as Chairman of the grouping consulted the other member-nations in this connection, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan told Geo TV.

He said Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar has contacted the Foreign Secretaries of the other member- countries about the new dates.

Sri Lanka has approved the proposed dates while Nepal and Maldives have also conveyed that these dates are suitable for them.

Bhutan's position is that, it will accept the dates approved by the other member-countries, he said adding that a reply was awaited from India. As soon as a response is received from India, Pakistan will announce the final dates for the Summit, he said.

"If the Summit meeting falls on the proposed dates then the meeting of Ministerial Council will most probably take place from February 5-6," he said.

To a question, he said, if India did not endorse the proposed dates, the other member-countries would be approached by Pakistan for consultation.

SAARC summit to be held in second week of this month was postponed due to tsunami disaster.