Statement by H.E. Mr. M. Morshed Khan, MP, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, at the 33rd Session of Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM), held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 19-21 June 2006

Mr. Chairman, the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan
Excellencies, the Heads of Delegations
Distinguished Delegates,
Brothers and Sisters,

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

Before I present my statement in this august forum, I take this privilege to join my colleagues to congratulate Your Excellency Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov for your assumption of the chairmanship of our Group. I am fully confident under your astute leadership; the Ummah will be able to march forward in unity.

I would like to express our deep appreciation to the Government and people of Azerbaijan for the wonderful arrangement made for this meeting in this beautiful and historic city of Baku. We would like to particularly thank Azerbaijan President H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev for taking the time to inaugurate the 33rd ICFM.

I also seize this opportunity to convey my appreciation for the wonderful work of our colleague H.E. Dr. Abu Bakar Al Qirbi, the Foreign Minister of Yemen during the last one year. In addition, I thank the leaders of Malaysia, the current chair of OIC, for their continued support to the activities of OIC.

I also thank the Secretary General of the OIC and the Secretariat for their hard work and commendable contribution in making the Conference a success.

Mr. Chairman,

We have gathered here at a time when the Muslim Ummah is passing through a critical time. We have challenges before us that need to be addressed with a sense of urgency and exigency. The Ummah is faced with various external threats and negative campaigns. This has to be addressed immediately, effectively and unitedly. The responsibility has fallen on us, who have gathered here, to reassert our rightful position in the international community.

We have always passionately spoken of Islamic solidarity. It has withstood challenges over the century. It is now time that we reaffirm our faith in our solidarity and demonstrate it through concrete action.

I have full confidence in the collective wisdom of this august body. Let us once again unite our insights and hold the banner of Islam high.

Mr. Chairman,

On the question of Palestine, the rights of the Palestinians and the issue of Jerusalem, Bangladesh strongly feels that the Muslim Ummah should, as always, speak in one voice.

We fully support the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people including their right to have a State of their own with Jerusalem as its capital. We call for the implementation of all relevant UN resolutions particularly Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 425, 1397, 1435 and 1515 which envisages Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian and Arab territories, and the resolutions on the return of the Palestinian refugees to their own lands.

Bangladesh maintains its principled stance for a comprehensive solution of the Palestinian question in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions, the Arab Peace Plan and the Road Map.

We strongly believe that the occupation of Palestinian land must come to an end, persecution of the Palestinians people must stop and they should have their own independent State.

Bangladesh notes with satisfaction that the People of Palestine were able to exercise their democratic rights in January by electing a new parliament according to their free will. Bangladesh firmly holds that democracy cannot have double standards.

We believe that it is important that the international community respects the will of the Palestinian people. We also hope that all parties involved will embrace a pragmatic and holistic approach to ensure successful implementation of the Road Map for lasting peace in the Middle East. We hold that dialogue should start with the participation of all countries which are involved in the peace process.

Member States must strengthen their efforts, individually and collectively, to support the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people.

We are deeply concerned at the escalation of violence in the Middle East resulting from hostile Israeli actions against the Palestinian people in violation of all international laws and norms.

Bangladesh calls upon the world community, OIC, the Quartet and the UN Security Council to put pressure on Israel for immediate resumption of the Peace Process in the Middle East.

Mr. Chairman,

With regard to situation in Iraq, Bangladesh considers the formation of an all inclusive democratic government in Iraq a positive development in the process of establishing the will of the people of Iraq. We also hope that they will take all necessary measures to establish security, peace, stability and maintain territorial integrity and restore full sovereignty of Iraq for the benefits of their people.

Bangladesh condemns the terrorist attacks that have been made to the Iraqi people, holy shrines, mosques and other religious sites.

Bangladesh is committed to the preservation of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States including Iraq. We deeply value the centrality of the United Nations in maintaining world peace and stability. Therefore, the UN should have the key role in the reconstruction process of Iraq. We expect that the international community would work together and with the UN in Iraq's reconstruction to bring an end to the sufferings of the people of Iraq and provide peace, stability and democracy in the country.

Mr. Chairman,

Bangladesh condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and opposes any attempt of linking terrorism with religion.

We take note that terrorist organizations have committed brutal acts of terror in almost all the regions of the world. Terrorist activities including those, which occurred in Bangladesh, have amply shown that mankind is facing threats. To combat this menace, joint efforts of all concerned States are necessary under the aegis of United Nations.

We recall here provisions enshrined in the UN Charter as well as in numerous international instruments concerning the inalienable rights of the peoples to their self-determination. We must remain firm in our support to the legitimate struggles of the peoples around the world, particularly to the people of Palestine, for their national liberation.

We have to strengthen international efforts at combating terrorism. Bangladesh is carefully examining the OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. Bangladesh, as a signatory to international conventions related to terrorism and provisions contained therein, enacted and modified relevant domestic laws for their effective implementation at the national level. We hope that OIC would be able to act in consensus in keeping with its commitment for elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Mr. Chairman,

As signatory to the NPT, Bangladesh believes in the basic and inalienable right of all States, to develop research, produce and use atomic energy for peaceful purposes, without any discrimination and in conformity with the Treaty.

We believe in the amicable and peaceful resolution of the problem through discussion and strongly feel that dialogue must continue for its long term resolution.

Bangladesh encourages Iran for its active cooperation with the IAEA and urges it to continue its cooperation within the Agency's mandate to resolve outstanding issues in order to promote confidence and a peaceful resolution of the issue.

In this context, Bangladesh, while encouraging Iran to respond positively to the European initiatives, opposes any use of force against Iran. We hold that such action would destabilize the region and beyond and may encourage extremists to take advantage of the ensuing situation.

Mr. Chairman,

Before I conclude let me mention that Late President Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh had a vision to convert the vast human resources of the Muslim countries into trained manpower that found fruition in the establishment of the erstwhile Islamic Centre for Technical and Vocational Training and Research (ICTVTR).

The ICTVTR has since been upgraded to the Islamic University of Technology (IUT). In this context, we underscore the need for strengthening the IUT for it to take up new challenges in preparing the Ummah to overcome lack of skill and expertise in manpower resources particularly in the field of Science and Technology.

We recognize the progressive role being played by the IUT towards development of the human resources in many of our Member States. IUT is now offering Post Graduate Degrees in many branches of Engineering and Technology.

The Government of Bangladesh has been consistently extending all possible support to IUT. And we will continue to do so fulfilling our commitment.

While we thank all those Member States who have been assisting the activities of IUT with their contributions, we would like to take this opportunity to appeal to the Member States to clear their current and outstanding dues as early as possible. The current arrear of the contributions to IUT exceeded US$21 million, whereas the annual budget of the University being only US$2.88 million.

Mr. Chairman,

Bangladesh is prepared to fully engage itself in finding consensus in this august forum. We look forward to tangible outcomes that can be translated into actions towards building a strong, prosperous and united Ummah. We welcome and support the offer of Pakistan to host the next ICFM in Islamabad.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.