US hopes election to be held by December 2008
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte Tuesday expressed the hope that the stalled elections in Bangladesh will be held by December 2008, reports UNB.
Negroponte aired the optimism when Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury met him at the International Convention Centre in Manila in the afternoon.
The US Deputy Secretary of State and the Bangladesh Foreign Adviser are now in Manila to attend a session of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) being held in the city.
Bilateral relations and international affairs also came up at the meeting for discussions, according to a message received in the city.
Speaking to the media afterwards, the foreign adviser said, he and Secretary John Negroponte have both represented their countries at the United Nations in New York at the same time, and are good friends.
"I told him we in Bangladesh see the US as a close partner and wish to work with them across a whole range of issues, including development, anti-terrorism, non-proliferation and human rights and dignity," he said.
The adviser further said he apprised Negroponte about the plans and programmes of the caretaker government and the 'roadmap' leading to elections by December 2008.
He said, "Bangladesh is a mainstream voice of moderation and is a responsible international actor in today's world, which the US appreciates very much."
The adviser said Negroponte informed him that the US administration was following the events in Bangladesh very closely and noted that the plans of the caretaker government are enjoying 'popular support.'
Iftekhar is scheduled to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation of Southeast Asia at a ceremony at the Conference Centre today (Wednesday).
Negroponte aired the optimism when Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury met him at the International Convention Centre in Manila in the afternoon.
The US Deputy Secretary of State and the Bangladesh Foreign Adviser are now in Manila to attend a session of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) being held in the city.
Bilateral relations and international affairs also came up at the meeting for discussions, according to a message received in the city.
Speaking to the media afterwards, the foreign adviser said, he and Secretary John Negroponte have both represented their countries at the United Nations in New York at the same time, and are good friends.
"I told him we in Bangladesh see the US as a close partner and wish to work with them across a whole range of issues, including development, anti-terrorism, non-proliferation and human rights and dignity," he said.
The adviser further said he apprised Negroponte about the plans and programmes of the caretaker government and the 'roadmap' leading to elections by December 2008.
He said, "Bangladesh is a mainstream voice of moderation and is a responsible international actor in today's world, which the US appreciates very much."
The adviser said Negroponte informed him that the US administration was following the events in Bangladesh very closely and noted that the plans of the caretaker government are enjoying 'popular support.'
Iftekhar is scheduled to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation of Southeast Asia at a ceremony at the Conference Centre today (Wednesday).