Foreign Minister ASM Moslafizur Rahman yesterday opposed any sort of ethnic partitioning of Bosnia Herzegovina and called on the International community to lift the arms embargo to enable the Bosnian Muslims defend themselves.

We oppose the dismemberment of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the ethnic partitioning of the country among Serbs. Croats and Muslim which will eventually lead to the ehmtna-tton of the Muslims from their motherland." hr said white inaugurating a day-tong seminar on the Bosnian crisis at the HANSDOC auditorium.

The Foreign Minister also wrongly advocated for lifting the International arms embargo on

Bosnia The arms embargo has exposed the virtually unarmed Bosnian Muslima to a great threat as II has not disarmed the sgyrssnr* . . . Therefore, It

pel one party to the conflict to face the other without the means of legitimate self de fence," the minister said.

The Foreign Minister rett-'

sources. Banglwiesh is ready to accept Bosnian refugee*, should the need arfee

A mesaagr by Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was also read out al the inaugurai session which was presided by Ahmed Farid. Secretary. Seicnee and Technology mtn tstrv and a farmer ambassador.

Begum Zia urged the tnter national community to urgently

verse this aggression against the Bosnian Muslima and safe mighty •ecurl^'and safety of

(Unwise, a whole population w« be wiped off the face of the European continent. Kha Ieda said in the message

The Prime Minister expressed deep concern at the brutal aggression against the defenceless Bosnia Hercegovina. a member of the United Nations, unleashed by the Illegal and immoral Serbian aggression.

The horrtbte Incidents of violence, rape, murder, genocide

and ethnic cleansing taking place in Bosnia now. have a used consternation all over the world, she said

Begum Zta voiced the joining of the people and the government of Bangladesh with the rest of mankind "in unequivocally condemning these arts of barbarity, heart teas cruelty and crime against humanity "

We have also lent resolute support to the just struggle of the people and government of Bosnia Herzegovina, the Prime

Subscribing to the affirmation of the sovereignty, territorial Integrity and political lode pendcnce of the republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. FoTerming the atrocities on the Bosnian Muslims as the most flagrant violation of human rights in the contemporary world, he called on the international community to take firm and resolute steps to immediately stop the genocide.

He said while the international community remained engaged in endless conferences for a political solution, the aggressor has been consolidating its illegal military expansion. The Foreign Minister urged the world community to treat all parties Involved more evenhandedly.

He noted Bangladesh's efforts in various international forums. Including the United Nations, the OIC and the Non-Aligned Movement, to bring about a just settlement to the Bosnian crisis.

The International community will have to show its political will to implement these and other resolutions tn order to end the atrocities now being committed In Bosnia-Herzegovina. Rahman said.

Organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Islamic Thought (Bim. a number of papers were presented at the seminar, entitled: The Bosnian 'Crisis: Different Dimension, while a resolution was adopted following discussions. Dr. M Shamsher All, Chairman of BUT and Vice Chancellor of the Bangladesh Open University, also addressed the opening session.

Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Bayat in his speech said strong and effective measures were necessary from the OIC and the international community for the protection of the Muslims in Bosnia before it was

too late.

Ahmed Farid called for coordinated actions by the Islamic Ummah for saving the Muslims from annihilation and urged the OIC for credible action programme in this regard. He also gave a horrifying account of the torture and genocide in Bosnia and the cynical indifference by the international community to check the situation.

The business session was chaired by S M Al-Hussainy, former chairman of the Public Service Commission.

The key-note papers presented in the seminar are Bosnian Crisis: ’ A Historical Overview by Professor K M Mohsin, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Dhaka University. Bosnia-Herzegovina: A Human Rights Tragedy by Dr. Ashraful Hasan, Department of International Relations, DU. Bosnian Crisis: Current Issues by Alamglr Mohtuddin, Editor. The New Nation and Abuses of Women and Children In Bosnia by Dr S Sajjad Hussain, a noted educationist

A five-point resolution, adopted at the seminar, deplored the UN policy of not discriminating between aggressor and victim In respect of the arms embargo, thus denying the right of self-defence to the besieged Bosnian Muslims.

Condemning attempts to partition Bosnia-Herzegovina, it regretted the relative apathy and aloofness with which Muslim states themselves have so far been content to approach the Bosnian problem. The resolution called upon the UN lo immediately lift the arms embargo on Bosnia.

The seminar was rounded off with prayers for an early restoration of peace In the region.