Bangladesh disappointed over SAARC summit postponement

DHAKA, Dec 9 (AFP) - Bangladesh on Monday said it was "disappointed" over the postponement of the SAARC regional summit and hoped a new date would be set at the earliest opportunity. "It is disappointing that the SAARC summit has been postponed, specially so for Bangladesh as it mooted the concept of regional cooperation for the betterment of South Asian people," a foreign ministry spokesman told AFP, following the announcement in Islamabad, which is hosting the meet originally scheduled for January 2003. He said Dhaka hoped a new date for the summit would be set at the earliest opportunity. Pakistan announced a delay in the 12th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and gave no new dates, although it said the annual meeting would be held after consultation with member countries. "It is unfortunate that the scheduled summit could not be held according to South Asian ministers' decision in Kathmandu that summits would be held every January from now on," the Bangladesh spokesman said. The SAARC, formed in 1985 comprises Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.