In a delayed move to break the stalemate over holding the 12th SAARC summit, foreign secretaries of member-countries of the 7-nation forum will meet on July 9-10 in Kathmandu.

"This move to hold the Standing Committee meeting is quite significant as it is an introduction to holding of the SAARC Summit," Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury said.

Speaking at the weekly press briefing yesterday, the foreign secretary expressed the optimism that the summit would take place this year in Islamabad.

The summit scheduled for January this year was postponed due to a conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.

Shamsher said though the Standing Committee meeting would mainly discuss some administrative matters, the stalled SAARC Summit and its possible timing are likely to come up at the meeting. He however did not elaborate.

Replying to a question whether Bangladesh's foreign policy is going to have a new dimension, he said "Looking East" would definitely remain on top of the foreign policy objectives.

He said Bangladesh will simultaneously continue its efforts to strengthen the SAARC and gear up its activities, keep its focus on Palestine and Iraq issues and launch a massive campaign to secure the office of the OIC Secretary General. "We are yet to finalise when we will send our ambassador in Baghdad… We are

now watching the situation."

Asked about Indonesian President Megawati Soeka-rnoputri's 3-day visit to Bangladesh from June 18, the foreign secretary said both Dhaka and Jakarta are working to finalise details of the tour programme.

Megawati had visited Bangladesh in 2001 as Vice President.

Shamsher said she expressed her desire to visit Bangladesh again. Indonesia is economically very sound and there is a scope to enhance cooperation, he mentioned.

"This visit is also a reflection of Bangladesh's current 'Looking East' foreign policy. It is highly significant

®he ^aSy ^tar

for many reasons like expanding economic relations between the two Muslim countries," Shamsher said.

A huge business delegation is expected to accompany Megawati. It would have interaction with our private sector to strengthen economic ties, he added.

About holding of the India-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission meeting, Shamsher said Dhaka and Delhi are now finalising a date next month.

Turning to the OIC, the foreign secretary said Turkey has not yet officially announced its candidature for the post of OIC secretarygeneral but there are indications.

Bangladesh this time is quite optimistic about securing the office of OIC secretary-general, he said and ruled out the possibility of any negative impact due to the opposition campaign against the Bangladesh nominee.

The main opposition party has protested nomination of Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury for the post and demanded cancellation of the nomination because of his 'antiliberation' role in 1971.

Salahuddin Quader is now the prime minister's parliamentary affairs advisor with the rank and status of a cabinet minister.

Responding to a query on press reports that MPs holding red pass-

ports are required to face the US special registration procedure, the foreign secretary said Bangladesh missions in Washington and Los Angeles have been asked to send details about it.

"The government will certainly take up the matter with the US authorities if there is a breach of commitment. The US administration had earlier said a relaxed procedure would be applied for Bangladeshi nationals travelling to America," he said.