President of Swiss Confederation Alain Berset has reassured ‘strong support’ for resolution of the Rohingya crisis.
He made the assurance during a meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on the sidelines of the 12th ASEM Summit held at the European Union headquarters in Brussels on Thursday-Friday.
The Swiss President said that he could not be more thankful for what Bangladesh has done hosting the Rohingyas, including sincere efforts to find a stable and peaceful resolution of the crisis.
President Berset also thanked Foreign Minister Ali for his very successful visit to Bangladesh on 4-7 February 2018, first ever by any Swiss President since establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1972.
During the visit he met with President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, as well as Foreign Minister Ali himself and also paid a visit to the Rohingya camps and one hospital supported by Switzerland in Cox’s Bazaar, said the foreign ministry here.
The Swiss President mentioned about his brief meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the recently concluded UN General Assembly held in New York (September 2018) and expressed deep satisfaction about the ongoing excellent bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Switzerland.
Foreign Minister Ali thanked Swiss President for full support to the Rohingya crisis and expressed hope that Bangladesh and Switzerland will remain committed to further strengthen the existing excellent relations both bilaterally and also at multilateral foras.
Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali also attended the opening ceremony of 12th ASEM Summit, where more than 45 heads of states/governments, and a few foreign ministers including himself, are leading respective country delegations.
He also attended the official Summit dinner. Meanwhile, Maltese Foreign Minister Carmelo Abela conveyed that Malta is keen to have more engagements with Bangladesh, as both sides ‘need to foster good cooperation’ to take the relationship to higher level.
He further referred to the pending bilateral instruments i.e., MoUs on Political Consultations and Collaboration between respective Foreign Service training institutes.
The Maltese Foreign Minister reiterated his invitation to Foreign Minister Ali to visit Malta and sign those instruments.
He also sought Bangladesh’s support for Maltese candidature for the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council for the term 2023-2024.
Foreign Minister Ali recalled his earlier visit to Malta in November 2015, as Head of Bangladesh Delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit and assured to undertake the pending official bilateral visit at the earliest opportunity. He further assured to give due consideration to the Maltese request for supporting their candidature for the UN Security Council non-permanent seat.
Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs Ambassador Anna Paula Zacarias recalled ‘500 years of historic’ relations between Bangladesh and Portugal when she called on the Bangladesh Foreign Minister.
Portuguese Secretary of State expressed keen interest about strengthening bilateral cooperation in oceans affairs, climate change and renewable energy.
