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'Dhaka trying to achieve political will'

Mostafiz rules out accord on Ganges during PM's trip

By Staff Correspondent
Foreign Minister ASM Mostafizur Rahman on Satur day ruled out the possibility of any agreement on sharing the Ganges waters during Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's three-day state visit to India this week.
But Rahman hoped that the visit beginning Tuesday would pave the way to solve outstand Ing bilateral problems, includ Ing the sharing of Ganges water.
"This is in essence a goodwill visit to generate a positive impulse and impetus to solve the bilateral problems." the Foreign Minister said while briefing journalists on Begum Zia's visit, her first state trip to India since she became the Prime Minister more than a year ago.
Asked if the Prime Minister was expected to sign an agreement on the Ganges issue Rahman said "This is a state visit when leaders usually do not sign any agreement."
He said that the Prime Minister would go to India with an "open-ended agenda which, according to him meant, all bilateral problems — Ganges, repatriation of Chakma refugees from India, Tin Blgha land corridor — would be dis cussed with Indian Prime Minister Naraslmha Rao
The Foreign Minister, who appeared at the briefing unscheduled, faced a series of questions on the Prime Minis ter's specific mission during the visit.
Asked why the Prime Minister's 10-membcr delega tion excluded the Irrigation Minister. Rahman smiled and said The water Issue will be discussed. Don't worry." Then he added "political will has to come and we are trying to achieve that political will."
Rahman said that Bangladesh viewed the visit as a "curtain-opener that would help begin a new process al lowing us to move systematl
colly towards the solution of bilateral Issues Until or unless you talk you don't know each other's mind, he said in reply to a questton
Though the Foreign Mints ter declined to give details, informed sources said that the Ganges issue would be on top of Begum Zia's agi nda tn talks with Naraslmha Rao at whose Invitation she Is undertaking the lour
Bangladesh and India do not have any agreement on sharing the Ganges waters since 1988 when the 1982 Memorandum of Understanding expired
As Foreign Ministry official* expect to break the ice on the Ganges issue, much more progress Is expected on the Tin Blgha front India. de*plte protests from some political parties. Is committed to handing the corridor over to Bangladesh by June 26
Asked what would be Bangladesh * reply if India raised Bangladesh * allcgrJ in
voIve men I with the ULFA. a rebel group In Assam, the Foreign Minister said 'Our reply will be the same as before." Bangladesh has consistently denied any link with the ULFA
In reply to a question whether Bangladesh would discuss the Issue of selling natural gas to India Rahman said ’If they want to talk we will talk. But we have no com mltmcnt to them
The Foreign Minister said that Begum Zias upcoming visit would not only create congenial atmosphere to solve bilateral problem* but also would help create new and Innovative avenue* iprvially in *ocio economic field* Detailing this. he *akd that the two prime minister* would dl*cu** expansion of trade and Industrial development
He said that the visit was Important from the SAARC point of view as Bangladesh, the birthplace of SAARC regional cooperation. Is holding the seventh summit meeting ol the seven South Asian nations at the end of this year.
Foreign Secretary Reaz Rahman. Initially scheduled to hold the briefing, and Add I tional Foreign Secretary A H Mahmood Alt were present
The Prime Ministers 10-member delegation includes the Foreign Minster. BNP members of parliament Akbar Hossain and Rosy Kabir, the Foreign Secretary and other senior officials.