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Dhaka non-committal about Berlin's

UNSC berth German foreign minister leaves for Sri Lanka

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Bangladesh was non-committal about Germany's bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), but backed UN reforms after German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer sought Dhaka's support yesterday.
Asked if Bangladesh will support Berlin's bid for permanent membership of the now five-member UNSC,
Morshed said. ’We have to review the whole system. We would like to see fixed criteria. — It the criteria are fixed under consensus, I am sure Germany will find itsrightplace."
”Wc firmly believe that the UN itself has to go through reforms with the change of time," he said while addressing a joint press conference with Fischer at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.
"We hope that if there isreform of FROM PAGE 1
the UNSC that we will get the support of our friends," hoped Fischer, in the last day of his two-day Bangladesh tour.
"The UN is the central body of the multilateral system...for strong multilateralism we need an efficient UN system. Therefore, we need io move forward with UN reforms," he said, explaining discussions on UN issues in the hour-long meeting with Morshed at the foreign ministry yesterday.
Morshed in his opening remarks said: "Bangladesh would be a very willing partner in any reforms of the UNforthegreatergoodofthe world."
Dhaka will take part in the reforms not out of compulsion but of a strong conviction to contribute for the advance of the UN system.
On Iraq, the German foreign minister said, "It was not a wise decision to go to Iraq." but was optimistic about a multilateral approach in reconstructing the southwest Asian nation.
"Mfe were unanimous in reaching the UNSC resolution 1546 on Iraq, and I think it’s an excellent resolution." Fischer said, adding, “We have to move forward and cannot leave Iraq alone."
"What we need io do now is a substantial transfer of real sovereignty to the Iraqi government...it would have been better if it was one year ago, but that's the past."
Fischer stressed the importance of elections in the roadmap to hand over real sovereignty to the Iraqi people and said Germany would play its part by training Iraqi police, providing aid and debt relief to move forward with reconstruction.
Asked if he thought the new interim administration in Iraq is a puppet government, Fischer said, "Thai is not the right description, it is exactly the opposite."
Adding that in a tense political situation in the Middle East. 'Everyone has thesame interest; acollapsed Iraq is a breeding ground for terrorists which does not benefit anyone."
The UNSC passed the Anglo-US proposed resolution after much corrections made along German and French recommendations.
'The resolution endorsed holding democratic elections by January2005
and laid out the role of UN in political transition and (he s(a(us of a multinational force in the re-construction oflraq.
Morshed told the media on Friday that despite the passing of the UN resolution and an interest of Iraqi interim government leader Iyad zMlawi in Bangladeshi troops, local opinion and parliamentary deliberation would receive primacy in the consideration.
Fischer also said Bangladesh was an important international example as the third largest Muslim-majority nation with religious tolerance, free society, freedom of the press and substantial regional contribution to thewaron terror.
He said at a time when Muslim countries were increasingly threatened by terrorism, "A strong presence of civil society and NGOs (in Bangladesh) are very good examples."
Stressing the need to improve corruption and human rights, Fischer, however, said they were "not relevant to our partnership."
"I think we understand the problems; we understand how sensitive thesituationis."
“We will do what we can.. .we will improve our relations and contribute toour friends," said Fischer.
He also appreciated Bangladesh's contribution to international peacekeeping and to regional forums such as Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).
Fischer expressed condolences to the flood-affected people in Bangladesh and offered emergency aid.
AFP adds: China said it backed a larger role for Germany at the United Nations, while India and Germany agreed to support each other's bids forpermanentscats.
For new countries to be taken onto the UN Security Council the support of two thirds of the UN's more than 190 countries will be required.
Fischer arrived in Dhaka from India on Friday night as part of his five-nation Asia tour. He left Dhaka at 7:05pm yesterday evening aboard a German Aiforce airbus for Sri Lanka from where he will Qy to Pakistan in thclastlcgofliistrip.