Lunch speech by H.E. Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Hon'ble Foreign Adviser in honour of H.E. Mr. António Guterres, Under Secretary-General and UN High Commissioner for Refugees
on 27 May 2008 at State Guest House, Padma

- Its a pleasure for me to welcome the High Commissioner for Refugees H.E. Mr. António Guterres to Bangladesh, and to this lunch.

- He is a person who had risen to great heights in his political career, having been the Prime Minister of his country Portugal as well as the President of the European Council. He is obviously therefore a person of prodigious accomplishments. It is a privilege for us to count him as a friend of Bangladesh.

- In his current responsibility, he heads the UNHCR. Our relations with that body dates back to the times of our liberation war when ten million Bangladeshis sought refugee abroad. The UNHCR assisted that repatriation process. Today we are discussing with them the resolution to the issue of the Rohingas. I am happy to report we have had some good discussions today.

- During my long stint in Geneva as this country's Permanent Representative I had occasion to work closely with the UNHCR. Also to focus on the whole gamut of the issue of refugees. What is key is the security and protection in the region of origin. It is the absence of those conditions that create refugee situations.

- Under normal circumstances the safest and the ideal lesson of any individual in his or her home. Being forced to give it up is a supreme sacrifice. The mark of civilization is that this fact should be fall none. Alas in the real world, the situation is far from ideal. But thanks to people like Mr. Guterres who ensure the alleviation of their pains.

- He is a noble guest, and we wish to assure him that we will walk with him.

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