Commonwealth ministers express sympathy

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KAMPALA, Nov 22 (UNB): Foreign ministers of the Commonwealth countries, meeting under the chairmanship of host Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa, have expressed "profound sympathy" on deaths and destruction caused by cyclone Sidr.
As the Foreign Ministers' conference began here Wednesday evening, Sam Kutesa mentioned the tragic loss of lives and property in the cyclone that smashed into Bangladesh's coastal belt on November 15 night.
He said the people and governments of the Commonwealth stood beside Bangladesh at this sad hour.
In response to those remarks, Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said: "It was a calamity of stupendous proportions."
He said the Bangladesh authorities were prepared for it and that limited the extent of death and destruction, yet it has been appalling.
"We are endeavouring to cope with the consequences as much as we can by ourselves, but we will welcome international support, and thankfully, much has been forthcoming."
Iftekhar Chowdhury said Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed would have wanted himself to thank the Commonwealth leaders for their support, but he needed to be at home at this time and asked "me to speak on his behalf."
He also noted how the disaster underscored the need to address the issue of climate change, one that Bangladesh has prioritised as critical.
The foreign adviser said: "In terms of development and progress we have been doing well, alleviating poverty, empowering women and achieving growth - all in consonance with the Commonwealth values of pluralism, tolerance and a sense of justice and equity."