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Regional meeting of US envoys begins in city today

By Staff Correspondent
A two-day regional meeting of US chiefs of missions to five South Asian countries begins in Dhaka today.
US Assistant Secretary of State Robin Baphel. who earlier arrived in Bangladesh on Thursday on a six-day visit, will preside over the meeting. The meeting will be held at the US embassy premises.
Later on January 27 and 28, Raphel will hold bilateral meetings with Bangladesh officials and leaders of the ruling and opposition parties.
Raphel's current trip is considered significant as it is taking place immediately after US President Bill Clinton begins his second presidential term during which time his administration is expected to pay spe-
cial attention to South Asian countries.
A team of senior officials from the US State Department in Washington are in the capital to participate in the US regional meeting which has been described by a US official to be "an annual periodic review of US policies relating to the region."'
The US ambassadors to five countries— India. Nepal. Pakistan. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will attend the meeting. The US envoys are David N Merrill posted in Dhaka. Frank Weismen in New Delhi. Peter Burleigh in Colombo. Sandra Bogelgesang in Kathmandu and Thomas Simons in Islamabad. US diplomats posted in Consulates in Karachi. Lahore. Peshwar. Bombay and Calcutta and other parts of the region would also participate.
Bhutan and the Maldives which do not have US ambassadorial level representation but are included in the US territorial grouping composing the South Asian countries on similar lines as the seven SAARC countries, will also come under the purview of the regional review meeting, sources said.
On January 27 and 28. the visiting US Assistant Secretary will have bilateral meetings with senior officials of the foreign ministry where talks on increasing Bangladesh-US bilateral co-operation, with spe clal emphasis on trade and in vestment, will be given.
Raphel, according to diplomatic sources, will call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Khaleda Zia. Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad. Commerce Minister’ To fael Ahmed and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Nooruddin Khan and is also likely to meet other political leaders to familiarise herself with the latest political situa tlon in Bangladesh, sources added
The US Assistant Secretary of State is due to address a press conference prior to her depar ture on January 28