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Blasts won't affect Saarc meet: FM

Says 16 US lawmakers' statement was prepared in Bangladesh

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan yesterday resolutely said that neither the bomb blasts in the country nor the BDR chief's remarks in New Delhi will affect the twice postponed 13th Saarc Summit in Dhaka set for November 1213.
"You will see unprecedented, unparalleled foolproof security when the summit takes place…we will build a complete security net. Inshallah, the Saarc summit will be held in Dhaka on schedule," he said at a press briefing at the Foreign Ministry.FROM PAGE 1
The Foreign Minister, who returned from the USA yesterday morning, said he had a meeting with Saarc foreign ministers in New York, where all the foreign ministers had expressed their eagerness about the summit. Some said the Dhaka summit will be a "landmark summit" for implementation of Saarc programmes.
Replying to a question whether the BDR Director General's remarks alleging Indian criminals involvement in the August 17 serial blasts would affect the summit, he said that such trivial matters of who said what and who reacted how would not affect the summit.
Morshed Khan said although the SAARC member states had not expressed any concern about the summit, the opposition leader Sheikh Hasina expressed her doubt about it.
About the Indian Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) statement on the BDR Chief's remarks, he said the MEA has not yet informed anything about it.
Asked whether the relations between Bangladesh and India deteriorated during the BNP regime as claimed by Sheikh Hasina, he said, "I don't know how the relation was when Sheikh Hasina was in power. But I can say that currently we have a very cordial and friendly relation between the two countries."
On another question, he said despite the bombing of the Twin Towers in New York, some 160 heads of state and government attended the world summit in New York. "Where don't bombs burst? Every capital city is on alert notice and the world is moving forward."
Asked about any foreign assistance for investigating yesterday's bomb attack in three districts, he said, "We are cooperating with the international community on terrorism and if necessary we will seek their assistance."
"Terrorism is now a global phenomenon and it needs the united effort of all countries to combat it," he added.
Turning to the Tuesday Group, the Foreign Minister said, "We will not allow anyone or any group other than the 140 million people of Bangladesh to interfere in the internal affairs as long as BNP is in power. All diplomats must follow the diplomatic norms, manners and rules."
When asked that BNP leaders, including he himself, met several times
with members of the Tuesday Group during the 2001 national election, Morshed Khan said there was no existence of any such group at that time. "We did not ask anyone to arrange such an electoral reforms conference," he added.
On a question about 16 US senators and congressmen's letter to the US Secretary of State to take up Bangladesh's issue in the UN session, the Foreign Minister said the letter was not at all a joint statement of the 16 US lawmakers because the draft was prepared in Bangladesh and then the signatures were collected.
The signatory lawmakers were from different parts of America and it was not a matter which can be take up in a UN session, as there is no such mandate to raise someone's death at such a level.
"If the UN has such a mandate, then the killing of many world leaders, including John F. Kennedy, might be taken up in a UN session," he said, adding, "The planners of the letter were so immature and totally ignorant about the UN system."
Turning to his participation in the UN Summit and General Assembly, meeting with Saarc Foreign Minister, bilateral meetings with his counterparts
of different countries, NAM and OIC Foreign Ministers meetings, he said he took up global, regional, Muslim worlds issues and also briefed about Bangladesh issues.
He said he had a series of meetings in Washington, D.C. with important US Senators, Congressmen and high officials when they raised the issue of the August 17 bomb blasts.
He said he assured them the Bangladesh government took a tough stance against the criminals and is determined to check terrorism in the country and also to work together in halting global terrorism.
The US lawmakers and officials agreed that terrorism is a global phenomenon and all countries should fight together against it.
On the fate of US Trade Bill 2005, the Foreign Minister said the senators and congressmen with whom he met assured him they would extend their support to the bill when it will be tabled. "The bill is not lying…it is in the serial," he said and added that the US State Department has nothing to do with the Bill.
Foreign Affairs Advisor Reaz Rahman and other high officials were present at the press briefing.