Press Release Details
Dhaka, 24 Jun 2012
Attention focused on the reports published in the local media following the 23 June visit of German Foreign Minister, Mr. Guido Westerwelle, particularly regarding the official talks
Attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to some reports appearing in the local media following the 23 June visit of German Foreign Minister, Mr. Guido Westerwelle, particularly regarding the official talks.
The Ministry would like to iterate for record that the following matters came up for discussion during the official talks:
- Economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Germany, including conclusion of a broad bilateral framework agreement on development cooperation; mutual recognition of certificates for seamen/mariners; progress on some German--funded projects in Bangladesh, including continued German support (till 2014) for the Project on Promotion of Social & Environmental Standards in RMG sector; issuance of operating licenses for German container vessels in Bangladesh; commencement of activities of the German political foundations in Bangladesh; conclusion of a broader knowledge-centric and skill-oriented partnership framework between Bangladesh and Germany, with focus on vocational and technical education;
- Collaboration in international forums, including elections to certain bodies; outcome of Rio+20; current situation in Europe, including the ongoing financial crisis in the Eurozone; recognition of Kosovo.
During discussions, the German Minister inquired about preparations for the next general elections in Bangladesh. He also inquired about the local media in Bangladesh. Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni apprised the German Minister of, among others, various measures taken by the Government towards the electoral process, strengthening the Election Commission and ensuring freedom of the media in Bangladesh. The German Minister expressed his appreciation for the update.
In this backdrop, the Ministry wishes to record its surprise at the content of a prepared written text and subsequent remarks by the German Foreign Minister immediately following the official meeting where he referred to issues that actually were not discussed. These include "free civil society, freedom of expression" and "discussions on latest human rights situation in Bangladesh, concern over recent killing of activists and for their perpetrators to be brought to justice", etc.
The Ministry would like to emphasise that none of these issues were even raised during the discussion.
Since the German Foreign Minister read out from a prepared text, the Ministry considers this as a serious failure on the part of the officials who failed to reflect an accurate account of the discussions in the Minister's statement e.g. the issues of human rights and recent killings which were not raised during the talks. The Ministry, therefore, summoned the CDA a.i. of the German Embassy in Dhaka this morning and conveyed Bangladesh's dismay, disappointment and concern over such misrepresentation of facts in the press briefing. The German CDA a.i. was advised that Bangladesh is always ready to engage in discussions on all issues in full transparency and objectivity. Making public statements about issues never raised is not only a misrepresentation of facts, but has the potential to affect bilateral trust and the long-engaging mutually beneficial relationship. The Foreign Ministry would particularly emphasise that the Bangladesh--German excellent relationship spans over four decades; that Germany remains Bangladesh's largest partner in trade and development cooperation in Europe (which the German Foreign Minister reiterated both during the talks and in his briefing); and that the German Foreign Minister visited Bangladesh with a 57-member delegation, which included some key German businessmen for exploring investment opportunities in Bangladesh.
The Ministry notes with further concern that in reporting on the press briefing, certain sections of the local media have not even kept to the German Minister's statement, but have resorted to judgmental extrapolation of their own resulting in serious mis-representation of facts. Given the main focus of the talks and the briefing on economic and development cooperation between Bangladesh and Germany, the Ministry cannot but express its dismay at such distortion of the German Foreign Minister's statements. The Ministry considers such mal-reporting devoid of objectivity, deplorable and highly unethical.
Attention focused on the reports published in the local media following the 23 June visit of German Foreign Minister, Mr. Guido Westerwelle, particularly regarding the official talks
Attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to some reports appearing in the local media following the 23 June visit of German Foreign Minister, Mr. Guido Westerwelle, particularly regarding the official talks.
The Ministry would like to iterate for record that the following matters came up for discussion during the official talks:
- Economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Germany, including conclusion of a broad bilateral framework agreement on development cooperation; mutual recognition of certificates for seamen/mariners; progress on some German--funded projects in Bangladesh, including continued German support (till 2014) for the Project on Promotion of Social & Environmental Standards in RMG sector; issuance of operating licenses for German container vessels in Bangladesh; commencement of activities of the German political foundations in Bangladesh; conclusion of a broader knowledge-centric and skill-oriented partnership framework between Bangladesh and Germany, with focus on vocational and technical education;
- Collaboration in international forums, including elections to certain bodies; outcome of Rio+20; current situation in Europe, including the ongoing financial crisis in the Eurozone; recognition of Kosovo.
During discussions, the German Minister inquired about preparations for the next general elections in Bangladesh. He also inquired about the local media in Bangladesh. Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni apprised the German Minister of, among others, various measures taken by the Government towards the electoral process, strengthening the Election Commission and ensuring freedom of the media in Bangladesh. The German Minister expressed his appreciation for the update.
In this backdrop, the Ministry wishes to record its surprise at the content of a prepared written text and subsequent remarks by the German Foreign Minister immediately following the official meeting where he referred to issues that actually were not discussed. These include "free civil society, freedom of expression" and "discussions on latest human rights situation in Bangladesh, concern over recent killing of activists and for their perpetrators to be brought to justice", etc.
The Ministry would like to emphasise that none of these issues were even raised during the discussion.
Since the German Foreign Minister read out from a prepared text, the Ministry considers this as a serious failure on the part of the officials who failed to reflect an accurate account of the discussions in the Minister's statement e.g. the issues of human rights and recent killings which were not raised during the talks. The Ministry, therefore, summoned the CDA a.i. of the German Embassy in Dhaka this morning and conveyed Bangladesh's dismay, disappointment and concern over such misrepresentation of facts in the press briefing. The German CDA a.i. was advised that Bangladesh is always ready to engage in discussions on all issues in full transparency and objectivity. Making public statements about issues never raised is not only a misrepresentation of facts, but has the potential to affect bilateral trust and the long-engaging mutually beneficial relationship. The Foreign Ministry would particularly emphasise that the Bangladesh--German excellent relationship spans over four decades; that Germany remains Bangladesh's largest partner in trade and development cooperation in Europe (which the German Foreign Minister reiterated both during the talks and in his briefing); and that the German Foreign Minister visited Bangladesh with a 57-member delegation, which included some key German businessmen for exploring investment opportunities in Bangladesh.
The Ministry notes with further concern that in reporting on the press briefing, certain sections of the local media have not even kept to the German Minister's statement, but have resorted to judgmental extrapolation of their own resulting in serious mis-representation of facts. Given the main focus of the talks and the briefing on economic and development cooperation between Bangladesh and Germany, the Ministry cannot but express its dismay at such distortion of the German Foreign Minister's statements. The Ministry considers such mal-reporting devoid of objectivity, deplorable and highly unethical.
