New Delhi, April 2(IRNA) Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon Sunday said the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation's (SAARC) Standing Committee has recommended strong steps to curb terrorism afflicting the region.

Strong statements have been recommended to jointly fight the menace, he said here today at a press briefing at the end of a two-day meeting of the committee.

He said these are intended not only to implement decisions taken in the past but also to chart out a future course of action to deal with the scourge of terrorism.

However, he declined to give details of the discussions, but said any idea that helps to eliminate the problem of terrorism was welcome.

The foreign secretary said that the text of the inter- governmental agreement on a South Asian University has almost been finalized by the committee.

He said India had quadrupled its contributions to one hundred million rupees for the SAARC secretariat.

The committee also reviewed SAFTA promotion and protection of investment and trade facilitation agreements, he added. According to him, these will be taken up by the foreign ministers' meeting which is due to start today.

SAARC's Standing Committee Saturday unanimously decided to recommend to the Council of Ministers and the summit acceptance of the request of Iran for observer status in the regional body.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established on December 8, 1985 with the formal adoption of its charter by the heads of state or government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

SAARC provides a platform for the peoples of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. It aims to accelerate the process of economic and social development in member states.