MINISTER IN CHARGE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS FOR THE SAARC SUMMIT APPOINTED

1.    The Hon’ble Foreign Minister, Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, has been on leave since 1st April 2010 on personal health grounds, and will be out of the country for medical treatment.  Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, Hon’ble Minister for Economic Affairs, is serving as Minister in Charge of Foreign Affairs in the interim. 

2.    Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk will lead the Royal Government’s delegation for the SAARC Council of Minister’s Meeting on 27th April 2010.  

3.    The SAARC Summit is the highest authority of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.  Bhutan will host, for the first time since its establishment, the XVIth SAARC Summit in Thimphu from 28-29th April 2010.  The Summit will be preceded by a series of related meetings from 24-27th April from the Senior Officials to Ministerial level.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
THIMPHU,  19th APRIL 2010