DHAKA, Oct 19, 2018 (BSS) – Swiss President Alain Berset has reassured
Dhaka of “strong support” over the Rohingya crisis as Foreign Minister Abul
Hassan Mahmood Ali met him on the sidelines of 12th ASEM Summit in Brussels,
a foreign ministry statement said here today.
It said Berset simultaneously conveyed his sincere thankfulness to
Bangladesh in providing the makeshift refuge to the huge number of forcibly
displaced people of Myanmar on humanitarian ground.
“President Alain Berset further said that he ‘couldn’t be more thankful’
for what Bangladesh has done hosting the Rohingyas, including sincere efforts
to find a stable and peaceful resolution of the crisis,” the statement read.
Mahmood Ali called on the Swiss president yesterday as they joined the
ASEM Summit at the European Union Headquarters.
During the meeting, Alain Berset also thanked the Foreign Minister for his
very successful visit to Bangladesh on February 4-7, 2018, first ever by any
Swiss President since establishment of diplomatic relations between the two
countries in 1972, when he met with President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury. During his visit the Swiss
president paid a visit to the Rohingya camps and one hospital supported by
Switzerland in Cox’s bazaar.
Mentioning about his brief meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on
the sidelines of the recently concluded UN General Assembly held in New York
(September 2018) Alain Berset expressed deep satisfaction about the ongoing
excellent bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Switzerland.
Foreign Minister Ali thanked the Swiss President for full support in the
Rohingya crisis and expressed hope that Bangladesh and Switzerland will
remain committed to further strengthen the existing excellent relations both
bilaterally and also at multilateral foras.
Besides, meeting President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset, FM
Mahmood Ali also met the Maltese Foreign Minister Carmelo Abela and
Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs Ambassador Anna Paula
Zacarias on Thursday on the sidelines of 12th ASEM Summit.
At the meeting Maltese Foreign Minister Carmelo Abela conveyed that Malta
is keen to have more engagements with Bangladesh, as both sides ‘need to
foster good cooperation’ to take the relationship to higher level. He further
referred to the pending bilateral instruments i.e., MoUs on Political
Consultations and Collaboration between respective Foreign Service training
institutes. The Maltese Foreign Minister reiterated his invitation to Foreign
Minister Ali to visit Malta and sign those instruments. He also sought
Bangladesh’s support for Maltese candidature for the non-permanent seat of
the UN Security Council for the term 2023-2024.
Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali recalled his earlier visit to Malta in
November 2015, as Head of Bangladesh Delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of
Government Summit and assured to undertake the pending official bilateral
visit at the earliest opportunity. He further assured to give due
consideration to the Maltese request for supporting their candidature for the
UN Security Council non-permanent seat.
Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs Ambassador Anna Paula
Zacarias recalled ‘500 years of historic’ relations between Bangladesh and
Portugal when she called on the Bangladesh Foreign Minister. Portuguese
Secretary of State expressed keen interest about strengthening bilateral
cooperation in oceans affairs, climate change and renewable energy. She also
conveyed Portuguese interest about enhanced cooperation in the multilateral
foras.
Referring to some 3,500 ‘well loved and respected’ Bangladeshi migrants
living in Portugal, Ambassador Zacarias emphasized on continued cooperation
between countries to remain ‘open’ for ‘migration’. She also expressed high
optimism about Portugal hosting the first-ever Political Consultations at the
Senior Officials level, to be held next month in Lisbon, to discuss issues of
mutual interest with a view to further deepen and broaden bilateral relations
to its full potential. Citing potential adverse impact of sea-level rise on
the people living across low-lying southern-cost of Bangladesh, Foreign
Minister Ali agreed with the Portuguese Secretary of State to remain engaged
on such critical global issues both bilaterally and at different multilateral
foras. Accepting a renewed invitation to visit Lisbon, Minister Ali assured
to undertake the same soon.
Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali also attended the opening ceremony of 12th
ASEM Summit in the evening, where more than 45 heads of states/governments,
and a few foreign ministers including him, are leading respective country
delegations.