Govt won't agree to anything against national interest: Iftekhar
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury Saturday made an unequivocal and firm resolve regarding the question of transit to India, saying the Foreign Ministry will never ever agree to any arrangement that is contrary to Bangladesh's sovereign national interest, reports UNB.
Responding to some reports related to transit to India, he said, "I wish to announce unequivocally and firmly that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will never, under any circumstances, agree to any arrangement that is contrary to our sovereign national interest."
"We are prepared to negotiate with any country on any subject, but no solution can ever be imposed on us without our consent," Iftekhar said adding, "This is an axiomatic truth of our diplomacy."
The Adviser said, "I wish to apprise all concerned about this in the clearest terms, and reassure the nation in this respect."
On Thursday, after a meeting with the Foreign Adviser, Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakrabarty was asked whether the transit issue would come up at the Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi.
Pinak had said India has been discussing the matter at all forums, as "we are interested in transit." He said, "We believe it's purely an economic issue, not a political issue at all. But here it is made a political issue though I don't see any reason for that."
Pinak, however, dismissed the idea that India has set any timeframe to get the transit facility from Bangladesh.
Responding to some reports related to transit to India, he said, "I wish to announce unequivocally and firmly that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will never, under any circumstances, agree to any arrangement that is contrary to our sovereign national interest."
"We are prepared to negotiate with any country on any subject, but no solution can ever be imposed on us without our consent," Iftekhar said adding, "This is an axiomatic truth of our diplomacy."
The Adviser said, "I wish to apprise all concerned about this in the clearest terms, and reassure the nation in this respect."
On Thursday, after a meeting with the Foreign Adviser, Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakrabarty was asked whether the transit issue would come up at the Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi.
Pinak had said India has been discussing the matter at all forums, as "we are interested in transit." He said, "We believe it's purely an economic issue, not a political issue at all. But here it is made a political issue though I don't see any reason for that."
Pinak, however, dismissed the idea that India has set any timeframe to get the transit facility from Bangladesh.