A major meeting of the Asian and European countries grouping has called for a “durable solution” of the Rohingya crisis. In the Chair's statement adopted by the Foreign Ministers of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) member countries, they also called for the “creation of the conditions conducive to safe, dignified, sustainable and voluntary return of the Rohingyas.”
They also underlined the importance of ensuring accountability in this regard, the foreign ministry said. Both Bangladesh and Myanmar are the members of the ASEM, an intergovernmental process established in 1996 to foster dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe.
Presently it comprises 53 Partners: 30 European and 21 Asian countries, the European Union and the ASEAN Secretariat. It addresses political, economic, financial, social, cultural, and educational issues of common interest in a spirit of mutual respect and equal partnership. The ASEM Summit is a biennial meeting between the Heads of State and Government, the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, and the Secretary-General of the ASEAN.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam represented Bangladesh in the meeting. He emphasised on the need of decisive global collective actions to ensure voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar. He also called upon the international community to address the issue of climate change on most immediate basis.
He also highlighted the achievements of Bangladesh, particularly in the area of women empowerment during the meeting held at Madrid, Spain on Monday, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday. He highlighted the achievements of Bangladesh in ensuring gender parity. He also explained the challenges faced by Bangladesh as a climate vulnerable country, and the initiatives by the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to address this enormous challenge.
The state minister also flagged the humanitarian position taken by Bangladesh in providing shelter to the Rohingyas who have fled from their own country after state persecution.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Alam also held bilateral meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ireland; Foreign Minister of Austria; Foreign Minister of Poland; Foreign Minister of Indonesia; Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation; Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain; and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Czech Republic.
He invited the Foreign Ministers of ASEM Members States to invest in Bangladesh. Dhaka will host the ASEM Finance Ministers’ meeting in mid-2020.
