ONE YEAR FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVES
State Guest House, Padma
2nd Jan 2008

Dear media representatives / friends,

Today I am here to raise some salient points of our foreign policy that we wanted to pursue since January last year. I kept you informed about those from time to time throughout the year.

In the backdrop of the political changeover on 11 January 2007 and since the assumption of office by our Government, being respectful of media and public opinion, we tried to implement different aspects of our foreign policy along with other policies. The broad aim of our foreign policy has been to have Bangladesh perceived as a responsible member of the international community. This has involved in getting the current Government the support by international actors in their reform efforts. We believe with our pro-active foreign policy we have succeeded in broadly meeting their aspirations. Also, importantly, through your help we have tried to build up a national consensus around our goals, objectives and endeavours. We hope this will also provide future governments some directions because in foreign policy continuity is key and all including different political parties are stakeholders. To this end, only a few days back we held a daylong seminar in the Foreign Ministry with our retired Ambassadors and think tanks.

Now I am going to highlight some points related to the efforts pursued by us in 2007 - both in bilateral and multilateral level - in light of the 10 objectives of our foreign policy.

1. Stabilizing our relations with the neighbouring countries including our larger neighbour and partner with whom we want to live in friendship and concord, but clearly as a distinct entity:

First of all I am going to raise the issue of development of our relations with our neighbours. At the sidelines of the 14th SAARC Summit, Hon'ble Chief Adviser had a fruitful meeting with the Indian Prime Minister. Both the leaders agreed to re-activate and strengthen the existing institutional frameworks to resolve all bilateral issues. After that, during the four meetings between Indian External Affairs Minister and me, we discussed all the long-pending issues. Fruitful discussions were held at the Foreign, Home and Water Resources Secretaries' level. We tried to make India understand that, because of economic and geographic position, India has a special responsibility in the development of this entire region. The establishment of railway communication between the countries is in its final stage following the understanding reached. India has started to handover us the criminals who took refuge in India. Because of the efforts of our Government and the cooperation we received from the Indian Government, we could bring back home, after long 36 years of our independence, the remains of Shahid Hamidur Rahman - one of our gallant fighters who received our highest gallantry award - Bir Shrestha. Besides, we were successful in bringing back home Mr. Nurul Islam who was abducted in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was actively involved in the whole process. Mr. Islam himself came to the Ministry to thank us for that.

After the two rounds of floods and Cyclone Sidr, we received prompt responses from the Indian Government. Specially, the lifting of ban on export of 5 lakh MT of rice from India to Bangladesh will immensely help us.

I have had interaction with my counterparts from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and other SAARC countries during bilateral visits and at different international fora. They also share my philosophy of simultaneous development of all the countries of the region. During my visit to Myanmar I have had fruitful discussions in matters related to transport, energy and economic development. I hope a new dimension will be added to our bilateral relations in future.

Last year was important as far as the development of regional cooperation is concerned. Many of our proposals were accepted during the Delhi SAARC Summit. The SAARC Car rally, SAARC Youth Camp have already been successfully completed. Besides, we made significant progress towards the establishment of SADF, SAARC Food Bank, South Asia University.

You know that the 'First BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation' is going to be held in Bangladesh from 10 January 2008. The Summit of the organization is going to be held in New Delhi next year.

2. Fostering cooperation within multilateral frameworks:

Bangladesh participated actively in different multilateral fora throughout the last year. Bangladesh participated, for the first time after having the status of full participant, to ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). During the ministerial meeting held in Manilla, Bangladesh signed a defence treaty titled 'Treaty on Amity and Cooperation (TAC)'. Our next goal is to become a dialogue partner of ASEAN.

Last year, a number of delegates from the European Union visited Bangladesh to see, first hand, the reform efforts of the present government. They extended their support to all our efforts. I represented Bangladesh during the CHOGM in Uganda. We highlighted the issues like 'climate change' there. During the 34th ICFM that was held in Islamabad, I called upon all to combat the so-called 'Islamophobia' - an attempt to link Islam with terrorism. This was well accepted and praised by the leaders present there. I had a bilateral meeting with South Korea at the sidelines of the 6th ACD Ministerial-level meeting.

3. Expanding economic cooperation with developed and other developing countries:

Bangladesh always gives priority to her relations with the United States because of economic and political reasons. The way they came to our help immediately after the Cyclone Sidr' - is a reflection of our excellent bilateral relations. Under the foreign aid component, a total of US$ 120 million was sought in the budget proposal of the US for the year 2008. This marks an increase of 41% increase in bilateral aid. The anti-corruption drive of the present Government and the efforts made towards ensuring good governance will play a role in increasing US aid to Bangladesh in future.

During my visit to the Russian Federation last September I had several meetings with the Acting Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and other leaders of that country. During the meetings, we discussed about enhancing bilateral trade relations, investment and cooperation in energy sector (specially in the field of nuclear energy). The visit at Ministerial level was a milestone since it took place after a long time.

The relation between Bangladesh and the UK is important for historical reasons. I met the British Foreign Minister during my visit to the UK last year. Some Ministers including the International Development Minister visited Bangladesh in 2007. The British Government has been expressing its full confidence on the caretaker government, since its assumption of office in January last year. They are also helping us in the voter list registration process.

Progress was made in our bilateral relations with Asian power China. Our export to China rose to US$ 93 million, marking an increase of 69% over last year's figure. An agreement was reached with them to construct a permanent trade centre in Dhaka. Last year, Japan declared to provide us with a loan of US$ 291 million in power, railway and water resources sectors. They invited me to visit Japan in late February this year.

I visited Norway and Sweden November last year and had fruitful meetings with the Development Cooperation Ministers of the two friendly countries.

4. Ensuring duty-free, quota-free access for our products into foreign markets:

Bangladesh Government is trying hard at bilateral levels for the duty-free market access of our products to the developed countries especially to the US and the European countries. I wrote to 435 Congressmen to approve the Bill titled 'New Partnership for Development Act of 2007' that has been raised in the US Congress for the duty-free market access of garments and textile products of LDCs to the US market.

5. Exploring new markets for our manpower and ensuring the well-being of expatriate Bangladeshis:

Since I am also in charge of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, it is my duty to look for new markets for Bangladeshi workers. Besides, we have strengthened our efforts to send more of our labours to the countries of the Middle East, Korea, Malaysia and Japan. We already sent a guideline to our Missions abroad to look after the interests of our labours there. We are giving priorities to the signing of MOUs with different countries, especially those in the Middle East to safeguard the interests of our workers there. Last year a new window of opportunity was opened to export our manpower to Malaysia and Korea. We are trying to explore new destinations like Poland and some Scandinavian countries for Bangladeshi workers.

During my visit to Korea in June last year, I had a long discussion with the Labour Minister of that country. An MOU regarding manpower export to Korea was signed then. I hope that we will be able to send more of our workers there in future.

Last year, the Minister of Labour of the UAE, the Minister of Manpower of Oman and the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bahrain visited Bangladesh. The visit of the Omani Minister was the first ever bilateral visit by an Omani Minister to Bangladesh in the 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Oman has lifted its ban on recruitment of Bangladeshi workers that was imposed 12 years ago. The Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Qatar will visit Bangladesh in this month.

6. Attracting Foreign Investment:

Like previous years, the government was careful in attracting foreign investment this year as well. However, due to two rounds of flood and cyclone Sidr, it was not possible this year to achieve the goal in this area. Very recently in the conference of the non-resident Bangladeshis, they were urged upon to invest in Bangladesh. They were informed that special measures would be taken so that they could invest easily in Bangladesh as Bangladeshis.

As you are aware, Bangladesh is going to participate for the first time in the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland. The Hon'ble Chief Adviser would explain the investment atmosphere in Bangladesh to the participating businessmen, international investors and the representatives of different countries and would urge them to invest in Bangladesh.

7. Efforts made to direct the trade negotiations in favor of Bangladesh in World Trade Organization:

As you know, Bangladesh has been elected the Chair of LDC Coordinating Bureau in New York in September 2007. Since then, we have remained active to project the demands of all developing countries including Bangladesh in all multilateral forums including the World Trade Organization. Last year, Bangladesh has strongly appealed in all international forums to ensure the unhindered movement of labour under the Mode IV of GATS.

8. Active Participation in the United Nations System:

Hon'ble Chief Adviser made a statement in the 62nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly on 27 September 2007. He highlighted various important issues related to development of Bangladesh in his speech. Apart from this, he acted as the co-chair of one of the sessions of the High Level Event on Climate Change held at that time.

Bangladesh has been reelected in the Council of International Maritime Organization, election to which was held in November 2007.

Bangladesh has always condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and has aligned herself with the international community in all their efforts to eradicate terrorism. Mentionable, Bangladesh has become a state-party to the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism last year. With the signing of it, Bangladesh has become state-party to all the thirteen international conventions relating to eradication of terrorism.

Bangladesh has also acceded to the United Nations Convention against Corruption in February 2007. Bangladesh has also ratified the latest Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in November last year.

In recent times, United Nations and international community has become keen about human rights related issues. We have remained careful in realizing our constitutional commitment with regard to protection and promotion of human rights for all the citizens of Bangladesh. Our commitment has been reflected in our decision to set up the National Human Rights Commission. Although a State of Emergency is in place in the country, the current Caretaker Government has put emphasis more than ever before to promote and protect human rights and has remained vigilant on human rights abuses. Mentionable, Bangladesh has been actively participating in the activities of the reconstituted United Nations Human Rights Council.

Bangladesh participated at the High Level Meeting relating to Climate Change held at Bali in Indonesia and took the lead in projecting the interests of the least developed countries.

9. Participation in worldwide Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding:

Bangladesh has been participating in the peacekeeping missions of the United Nations. So far, more than 62 thousand Bangladeshis have participated in different peacekeeping activities of the UN. Though the number and manpower of peacekeeping mission of the UN have been reduced, the position of Bangladesh remains prominent thanks to the active and relentless efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In view of our active participation in the peacekeeping missions of the UN in the past, Bangladesh is going to participate in the UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur. Moreover, Bangladesh is playing an important role as an active member of the Peacebuilding Commission.

10. Safeguarding the interest of Bangladesh by projecting our culture abroad:

As all of you are aware, Bangladesh is well ahead of other developing countries in implementing creative models of economic development. Let us take the examples of efforts taken to promote microcredit, women empowerment, health and education. In these areas, Bangladesh is a model for other developing countries. We may project the rich cultural heritage that we have. By organizing different cultural events through our missions abroad, we may also project our "moderate identity".

Apart from the issues mentioned above, Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated the whole process of international relief assistance by contacting different countries in the aftermath of two rounds of floods and cyclone Sidr. So far, approximately an amount of 650 million dollars of relief assistance including pledges have been received from different countries and international organizations for relief and rehabilitation activities. Besides, approximately an amount of 36 crore taka have been received from expatriate Bangladeshis and other individuals thanks to the efforts of Bangladesh Missions abroad.

In conclusion, it may be said that the implementation of foreign policy is a continuous process. I hope, the positive results of the actions I have mentioned, would be tangible in near future. As we are proceeding through a fast-changing world order, new dimensions would be added in our foreign policy in the days to come. You have already noticed that there is a growing national consensus in relation to the foreign policy of Bangladesh. We seek for your cooperation to this end.

I thank you all.