Thursday, July 27 2006 12:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: The US, European Union and South Korea may be inducted as observers in the seven-nation SAARC at its ministerial level meeting here next week.

Major Asian powers such as China and Japan already enjoy observer status.

Afghanistan, which is on the region's periphery, is being brought on board the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, reflecting the growing interaction among nations and the fast-moving global scenario.

Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta will be a special guest at the Dhaka meet that will be opened by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, The Daily Star reported.

Afghanistan is slated to be made the eighth member of the regional grouping at the 14th SAARC Summit next year, when India takes over as chairman from Bangladesh.

Quoting Bangladesh foreign office sources, the newspaper said the Council of Ministers meeting would approve the guidelines concerning SAARC observers and guests, new observers and other recommendations of the Standing Committee.

The Standing Committee will meet on July 31 and Aug 1 and the Programming Committee comprising senior officials on July 30.

The deputy foreign minister of Afghanistan will attend the Standing Committee meeting.

A SAARC car rally and location of a SAARC university are on the agenda of the committee comprising foreign secretaries, which will also approve the SAARC budget for 2007 and review the activities of different technical committees and working groups.

The foreign secretaries will also provide guidelines for increasing further cooperation among the member nations in commerce, finance, communications and energy sectors.

The Standing Committee meet will be followed by the 27th Council of Ministers meeting on Aug 1 and 2.