NEW YORK: Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni categorically said that Bangladesh had never failed to stand on the side of the Palestinian people and would continue to do so.

“Guided by its constitutional obligation to support oppressed peoples throughout the world waging a just struggle against foreign occupation, Bangladesh has never failed to stand on the side of the Palestinian people and would continue to do so”, she reaffirmed at the NAM Ministerial Committee meeting in New York this afternoon.

Noting the Initiatives undertaken by US Secretary States bring the two parties to negotiating table the Foreign Minister called for a more proactive role of the UN in realizing the inalienable and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people for an independent, viable, contiguous State of Palestine based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel in peace and security.

The 12 member NAM Ministerial Committee is comprised of Bangladesh, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Palestine, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Iran.
    
Earlier in the 12th Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting Foreign Minister expressed happiness at the fact that the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) would be held in a South Asian country, Sri Lanka later this year after a lapse of 30 years.

Strongly supporting the proposed theme of the CHOGM 2013 Growth with Equity: Inclusive Development, the Foreign Minister said that captures the aspirations of the developing country members of the Commonwealth in the post-2015 development era.

Dr. Dipu Moni also spoke at the Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends United against Human Trafficking hosted by the Foreign Minister of Belarus and briefed the meeting about the various legislative and institutional initiatives undertaken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina`s government to prevent human trafficking including the Human Trafficking Deterrence and Suppression Act, 2012 and Rules 2013, as well as the National Plan of Action 2012-14.

She also called for greater cooperation between the Group of Friends and ICAT to mobilize resources to support capacity-building of law enforcement agencies and security forces of developing country members of the Group, especially for investigation and prosecution of trafficking related crimes and protection of victims.

In the evening, Dr Moni attended a Pre-meeting Working Dinner hosted by the Commonwealth Secretary General for the members of CMAG at a local hotel in New York. The Ministers informally discussed the issues on the agenda of the 40th Session of the CMAG to be held in New York tomorrow. Currently, Foreign Ministers of Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Jamaica, Maldives, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago and Vanuatu are the members of CMAG.

Earlier Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Dr Dipu Moni, MP emphasized the importance of connectivity as one of the key instruments for achieving the ultimate goal of ‘Asian Community’ while speaking at the Annual Ministerial Breakfast Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD).

The Foreign Minister said this, while participating in the hosted by the Foreign Minister of Bahrain, Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, in New York today on the sidelines of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

In her intervention, the Dr Dipu Moni welcomed the selection of the theme Promoting Intra-Asian Tourism for the upcoming 12th Ministerial Meeting of ACD to be held in Bahrain in November this year as tourism offers an effective tool for promoting the people dimension of connectivity in Asia.

The Foreign Minister affirmed full support for the candidature of Turkey for membership of ACD and welcomed Turkey as a new member of the organization. She also expressed satisfaction at the finalization of preparations for establishment of the provisional Secretariat of ACD in Kuwait by the end of next month and also appointment of provisional Secretary General. Bangladesh is a founding member of the 33 member ACD a forum for dialogue and cooperation among Asian countries.

Yesterday, The Foreign Minister also held a bilateral meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma to get breifed on teh agenda of the 40th meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in her capacity as the Chairperson of teh CMAG.

On the same day,  Foreign Minister also attended the Signing  ceremony of Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the call by US Chambers delegation on the Prime Minister,  the Global Conversation with Women Leaders luncheon, reception hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Fiji as Chair of G77 and China.

BDST: 1314 HRS, SEP 27, 2013
AKA/GCP