Netherlands, EU support caretaker govt's works
Thursday, 18 October 2007
New Dutch Ambassador in Bangladesh BM Ten Tusscher has said the Netherlands and European Union (EU) support the initiatives being undertaken by the caretaker government.
Ambassador Ten Tusscher, who also chairs the EU presidency in Bangladesh in absence of Portugese embassy here, made the remarks during a meeting with Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury in the city Wednesday, reports UNB.
The envoy told reporters that they discussed current state of bilateral relations between the Netherlands and Bangladesh and also between the EU and Bangladesh.
She said they also discussed regional and international issues. Iftekhar Ahmed said regional issues included Myanmar, on which he had already issued a statement.
"Bangladesh fully supports the efforts being undertaken by United Nations (UN) envoy Ibrahim Gambari on Myanmar and hopes for a peaceful resolution of all concerned issues," the adviser said.
On cooperation between Bangladesh and the Netherlands on the international issues, he referred to the recent co-chairing of the session on Climate Change by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende in New York.
He said both the governments will work very closely on the issue relating to global warming as they face similar challenges.
"We also discussed Bangladesh's new role as chairman of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Dutch government has assured us of assistance in this respect," Iftekhar added.
The adviser told the envoy that the government placed high priority on human rights and expressed the hope to have a National Human Rights Commission in place before long.
Asked on the issue pertaining to the problems of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia, he said the government had already taken firm action so that a smooth flow of labour to Malaysia could continue.
He also spoke about the need for Bangladesh to have a new vision and policy to train potential workforce to fill the gaps left by the ageing population in Europe and America. This planning for the future was a critical component of our policy.
Ambassador Ten Tusscher, who also chairs the EU presidency in Bangladesh in absence of Portugese embassy here, made the remarks during a meeting with Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury in the city Wednesday, reports UNB.
The envoy told reporters that they discussed current state of bilateral relations between the Netherlands and Bangladesh and also between the EU and Bangladesh.
She said they also discussed regional and international issues. Iftekhar Ahmed said regional issues included Myanmar, on which he had already issued a statement.
"Bangladesh fully supports the efforts being undertaken by United Nations (UN) envoy Ibrahim Gambari on Myanmar and hopes for a peaceful resolution of all concerned issues," the adviser said.
On cooperation between Bangladesh and the Netherlands on the international issues, he referred to the recent co-chairing of the session on Climate Change by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende in New York.
He said both the governments will work very closely on the issue relating to global warming as they face similar challenges.
"We also discussed Bangladesh's new role as chairman of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Dutch government has assured us of assistance in this respect," Iftekhar added.
The adviser told the envoy that the government placed high priority on human rights and expressed the hope to have a National Human Rights Commission in place before long.
Asked on the issue pertaining to the problems of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia, he said the government had already taken firm action so that a smooth flow of labour to Malaysia could continue.
He also spoke about the need for Bangladesh to have a new vision and policy to train potential workforce to fill the gaps left by the ageing population in Europe and America. This planning for the future was a critical component of our policy.