International conference on Afghanistan to open in The Hague
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni
Dipu Moni meets Hillary in Hague, invites her to visit Bangladesh
Dhaka, Apr 01, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, now in Hague to attend an international conference, has invited US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to visit Bangladesh.Dipu Moni extended the invitation on Tuesday when she met Hillary on the sidelines of the International Conference on Afghanistan, said a Foreign Ministry press release today (Wednesday).Accepting the invitation, Hillary said the visit could be arranged at a mutually convenient time for both the governments.The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the excellent bilateral relations that exists between Bangladesh and USA.Later, Dipu Moni held a meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen and discussed matters of mutual interest.
Dhaka, Apr 01, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, now in Hague to attend an international conference, has invited US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to visit Bangladesh.Dipu Moni extended the invitation on Tuesday when she met Hillary on the sidelines of the International Conference on Afghanistan, said a Foreign Ministry press release today (Wednesday).Accepting the invitation, Hillary said the visit could be arranged at a mutually convenient time for both the governments.The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the excellent bilateral relations that exists between Bangladesh and USA.Later, Dipu Moni held a meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen and discussed matters of mutual interest.
Not even an inch of land for terror: Dipu Moni
by priyo.com February 12, 2009 - 4:14am
Independent: Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni stressed the fight against terrorism in the South Asian region. She has called upon the media to help remove the absence of trust that besets the area these days.
"There is not even one inch of land in Bangladesh for the terrorists to use for terrorism," the Foreign Minister said yesterday at the 7th South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) conference in the country's southern resort town of Cox's Bazar. The media can play a vital role in enhancing peace, development and democracy in the South Asian region, she said. Dr Dipu Moni said, "without an open space for ideas to flourish and be debated, there can be no development, no democracy, no dialogue and no lasting peace."
She observed, "we noticed in the past that democracy was in real danger when freedom of expression was heavily compromised. Freedom of expression underpins all other human rights and democratic freedoms."
"Battles for freedom of expression and freedom of information have been part and parcel of our struggles for decent livelihood, for equality in social and national rights, for women's right and workers right," she added.
"There have been struggles against the abuse of power and dominance. Media in South Asia has been discharging the commendable duty of creating awareness and promoting greater regional cohesion. We know the pursuit of national interests and enduring peace is closely tied to democracy. And democracy can only flourish when media is free,"
by priyo.com February 12, 2009 - 4:14am
Independent: Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni stressed the fight against terrorism in the South Asian region. She has called upon the media to help remove the absence of trust that besets the area these days.
"There is not even one inch of land in Bangladesh for the terrorists to use for terrorism," the Foreign Minister said yesterday at the 7th South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) conference in the country's southern resort town of Cox's Bazar. The media can play a vital role in enhancing peace, development and democracy in the South Asian region, she said. Dr Dipu Moni said, "without an open space for ideas to flourish and be debated, there can be no development, no democracy, no dialogue and no lasting peace."
She observed, "we noticed in the past that democracy was in real danger when freedom of expression was heavily compromised. Freedom of expression underpins all other human rights and democratic freedoms."
"Battles for freedom of expression and freedom of information have been part and parcel of our struggles for decent livelihood, for equality in social and national rights, for women's right and workers right," she added.
"There have been struggles against the abuse of power and dominance. Media in South Asia has been discharging the commendable duty of creating awareness and promoting greater regional cohesion. We know the pursuit of national interests and enduring peace is closely tied to democracy. And democracy can only flourish when media is free,"
"Democracy can not exist without freedom of expression. A transition to democracy and even in the strengthening of democratic norms, practice, culture and institutions, media has played a monumental role. A free media can be good or bad, but without its freedom, a society can only expect tyrants."
"A well functioning democracy is guarantor of welfare and well being of people. Survival of democracy depends on its ability to deliver basic needs of the people, through ensuring economic and social development, creating and nurturing and environment of peace where people can live in dignity and pride. Media acts as the watchdog on government action and forming public opinion."
"A free media plays a crucial role in ensuring accountability, transparency and good governance. While it has the power to inform and enlighten people and safeguard and strengthen democracy through correct reporting, an unfair and biased media can erode public trust and damage the democratic system of which it is so indispensably a part of. We must remember responsibility is the price of freedom. The enormous power and potential that media has must be used with utmost care."
" We need to connect hearts and minds of the people of region and build bridges of love and empathy which would lead to peace, progress and prosperity in the region,"
"A well functioning democracy is guarantor of welfare and well being of people. Survival of democracy depends on its ability to deliver basic needs of the people, through ensuring economic and social development, creating and nurturing and environment of peace where people can live in dignity and pride. Media acts as the watchdog on government action and forming public opinion."
"A free media plays a crucial role in ensuring accountability, transparency and good governance. While it has the power to inform and enlighten people and safeguard and strengthen democracy through correct reporting, an unfair and biased media can erode public trust and damage the democratic system of which it is so indispensably a part of. We must remember responsibility is the price of freedom. The enormous power and potential that media has must be used with utmost care."
" We need to connect hearts and minds of the people of region and build bridges of love and empathy which would lead to peace, progress and prosperity in the region,"
The Foreign Minister said.
She pointed out that a well functioning democracy is guarantor of welfare and wellbeing of people.
The Foreign Minister mentioned that Bangladesh is at the vanguard of promoting regional and international peace and stability. Immediately after independence, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had proclaimed that Bangladesh will ceaselessly pursue a policy of "friendship to all and malice to none". His pronouncements remain the cardinal principle in our dealing with all nations regionally as well as globally.
"We attach great priority to strengthening and fortifying our relations with our neighbours," she added. Terming the year 2008 as a significant one for Bangladesh, she said, the widely acclaimed free, fair and transparent December 29 general election ushered in a new course of democracy in the country.People voted for change, against tyranny, corruption and bad governance. "Overwhelming mandate of the people has strengthened our resolve to consolidate democracy in the country," she added. Describing South Asia as "our home", the Foreign Minister regretted that South Asia is also a region beset with age-old suspicion and mistrust.
"A region which has the largest concentration of poor people living with less than a dollar can ill afford the acrimony and animosity that has been witnessed over the years", she added.
She pointed out that a well functioning democracy is guarantor of welfare and wellbeing of people.
The Foreign Minister mentioned that Bangladesh is at the vanguard of promoting regional and international peace and stability. Immediately after independence, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had proclaimed that Bangladesh will ceaselessly pursue a policy of "friendship to all and malice to none". His pronouncements remain the cardinal principle in our dealing with all nations regionally as well as globally.
"We attach great priority to strengthening and fortifying our relations with our neighbours," she added. Terming the year 2008 as a significant one for Bangladesh, she said, the widely acclaimed free, fair and transparent December 29 general election ushered in a new course of democracy in the country.People voted for change, against tyranny, corruption and bad governance. "Overwhelming mandate of the people has strengthened our resolve to consolidate democracy in the country," she added. Describing South Asia as "our home", the Foreign Minister regretted that South Asia is also a region beset with age-old suspicion and mistrust.
"A region which has the largest concentration of poor people living with less than a dollar can ill afford the acrimony and animosity that has been witnessed over the years", she added.
Dr Dipu Moni said, the present government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is committed to working for a more congenial political climate in the region, that will help foster a more robust cooperation among the nations of the region. She called upon the journalist community of South Asia to spread the message of goodwill and love to each and every household in the region. "Time is a luxury we cannot afford. If we have a mountain to climb, looking at it will not make it any smaller".
She said that Bangladesh would form South Asian Task Force to combat terrorism as it was election manifesto of the present government. "Bangladesh will continue to hold dialogue on the issue," she added.
Chaired by newly elected SAFMA president Riazuddin Ahmed, the session was addressed, among others, by Khalid Ahmed and Afzal Khan of Pakistan, Kumar Khitkarand Vinod Kumar Sharma of India, Luxman Gunasekara of Sri Lanka, Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelley of Bangladesh and SAFMA secretary general Imtiaz Alam of Pakistan.
The conference yesterday reached the understandings welcoming the exit of monarchy in Nepal and victorious people's struggle for democracy culminating in the creation of constituent assembly; the democratic change in Maldives resulting in the defeat of decades old authoritarian regime, emergence of democratic institutions after the February 2007 elections in Pakistan, creation of a sovereign parliament and a democratic coalition government and introduction of a constitutional monarchy and free elections in Bhutan; and revival of democracy in Bangladesh and establishment of a secular democratic government. The conference also expressed concern at the spread of terrorism in the north-western region of Pakistan and south-eastern Afghanistan and its spillover to India, Bangladesh and other countries. The conference condemned the terrorist attack on Mumbai on 26/11 and various parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan and hostage-taking in Kabul on 11 February. The 7th SAFMA conference also felt distressed over the escalation of military conflict in Sri Lanka and the loss of innocent lives of the people caught in the conflict zone, got aggrieved for the increasing casualties of and attacks on journalists in conflict-ridden areas, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal in particular.
Chaired by newly elected SAFMA president Riazuddin Ahmed, the session was addressed, among others, by Khalid Ahmed and Afzal Khan of Pakistan, Kumar Khitkarand Vinod Kumar Sharma of India, Luxman Gunasekara of Sri Lanka, Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelley of Bangladesh and SAFMA secretary general Imtiaz Alam of Pakistan.
The conference yesterday reached the understandings welcoming the exit of monarchy in Nepal and victorious people's struggle for democracy culminating in the creation of constituent assembly; the democratic change in Maldives resulting in the defeat of decades old authoritarian regime, emergence of democratic institutions after the February 2007 elections in Pakistan, creation of a sovereign parliament and a democratic coalition government and introduction of a constitutional monarchy and free elections in Bhutan; and revival of democracy in Bangladesh and establishment of a secular democratic government. The conference also expressed concern at the spread of terrorism in the north-western region of Pakistan and south-eastern Afghanistan and its spillover to India, Bangladesh and other countries. The conference condemned the terrorist attack on Mumbai on 26/11 and various parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan and hostage-taking in Kabul on 11 February. The 7th SAFMA conference also felt distressed over the escalation of military conflict in Sri Lanka and the loss of innocent lives of the people caught in the conflict zone, got aggrieved for the increasing casualties of and attacks on journalists in conflict-ridden areas, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal in particular.
Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni
Now in Hague to attend an international conference, has invited US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to visit Bangladesh.Dipu Moni extended the invitation on Tuesday when she met Hillary on the sidelines of the International Conference on Afghanistan, said a Foreign Ministry press release yesterday. Accepting the invitation, Hillary said the visit could be arranged at a mutually convenient time for both the governments. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the excellent bilateral relations that exists between Bangladesh and USA.Later, Dipu Moni held a meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen and discussed matters of mutual interest. She also met with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan. During the meeting, Dipu Moni and Babacan discussed various bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual importance. Dipu Moni also briefed Babacan about the developments in the South Asia region.The Turkish Foreign Minister called for more frequent interaction between Bangladesh and Turkey.
FM seeks Dutch help in poverty alleviation
Foreign Minister (FM) Dr Dipu Moni sought Dutch help in poverty alleviation, water management, agriculture and environment and also requested adding more Bangladesh products into the import basket of the Netherlands, reports UNB. She appreciated the Dutch government for launching a new development programme styled Development-related Infrastructure Facility or Development-Related Export Transactions Programme (ORIO) in Bangladesh. This programme would help alleviate poverty in the country, the FM said during her meeting with Dutch Development Cooperation Minister Bert Koenders on the sidelines of the International Conference on Afghanistan at The Hague, the capital of the Netherlands, Tuesday. The Dutch minister assured the Foreign Minister that the programme would be more flexible than the ORET and it would be more pro-poor and help the developing countries to finance their priority sectors. Dipu Moni requested the Dutch minister to allocate funds under ORIO programme in the priority sectors like water management, agriculture and environment. She also requested the Dutch government to diversify and include Bangladeshi ceramic and pharmaceuticals in their import basket. "Shipbuilding is another sector where the Netherlands might take advantage of low cost and high quality," the foreign minister said, according to a message received Wednesday.The minister praised the continued Dutch support towards Bangladesh in the field of human resources, water management, education, health, and women empowerment. She expressed the hope that the bilateral relations would grow further "from strength to strength in the days to come".
Foreign Minister (FM) Dr Dipu Moni sought Dutch help in poverty alleviation, water management, agriculture and environment and also requested adding more Bangladesh products into the import basket of the Netherlands, reports UNB. She appreciated the Dutch government for launching a new development programme styled Development-related Infrastructure Facility or Development-Related Export Transactions Programme (ORIO) in Bangladesh. This programme would help alleviate poverty in the country, the FM said during her meeting with Dutch Development Cooperation Minister Bert Koenders on the sidelines of the International Conference on Afghanistan at The Hague, the capital of the Netherlands, Tuesday. The Dutch minister assured the Foreign Minister that the programme would be more flexible than the ORET and it would be more pro-poor and help the developing countries to finance their priority sectors. Dipu Moni requested the Dutch minister to allocate funds under ORIO programme in the priority sectors like water management, agriculture and environment. She also requested the Dutch government to diversify and include Bangladeshi ceramic and pharmaceuticals in their import basket. "Shipbuilding is another sector where the Netherlands might take advantage of low cost and high quality," the foreign minister said, according to a message received Wednesday.The minister praised the continued Dutch support towards Bangladesh in the field of human resources, water management, education, health, and women empowerment. She expressed the hope that the bilateral relations would grow further "from strength to strength in the days to come".
