Switzerland president voices ‘strong’ support for Bangladesh on Rohingya crisis

Swiss President Alain Berset has reaffirmed 'strong’ support to Bangladesh for the resolution of the Rohingya crisis when Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali met him in Brussels.

The foreign minister attended the 12th Asia-Europe (ASEM) Summit from Oct 18-19 at the headquarters of the European Union when he also met Maltese Foreign Minister Carmelo Abela and Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs Anna Paula Zacarias on the sidelines.

The foreign ministry on Friday said the Swiss president said '[he] couldn't be more thankful' for what Bangladesh has done hosting the Rohingyas, including ‘sincere’ efforts to find a stable and peaceful resolution of the crisis.

Berset also thanked the foreign minister for his ‘very successful’ visit to Dhaka in February, first ever by any Swiss president since establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1972.

He paid a visit to the Rohingya camps and one hospital supported by Switzerland in Cox's Bazaar.

Ali thanked the Swiss president for full support in the Rohingya crisis and expressed hope that Bangladesh and Switzerland will remain committed to strengthen the bilateral and multilateral relations.

The Maltese foreign minister 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 referred to the pending bilateral instruments on political consultations and collaboration between the foreign service training institutes.

The Maltese foreign minister reiterated his invitation to Foreign Minister Ali to visit Malta and sign those instruments.

He sought Bangladesh's support for Maltese candidature for the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council for the term 2023-2024.

The Portuguese secretary of state for European affairs expressed keenness about strengthening bilateral cooperation in oceans affairs, climate change and renewable energy.

She also conveyed Portuguese interest about enhanced cooperation in the multilateral fora.

Referring to some 3,500 Bangladeshi migrants living in Portugal, she emphasised continued cooperation between countries to remain 'open' for 'migration'.

She also expressed high optimism about Portugal hosting the first-ever political consultations at the senior officials level, to be held next month in Lisbon, to further deepen and broaden bilateral relations.

Mahmood Ali cited potential adverse impact of sea-level rise on the people living across low-lying southern coast of Bangladesh, and agreed with the Portuguese secretary of state to remain engaged on such critical global issues both bilaterally and at different multilateral fora.

He accepted a renewed invitation to visit Lisbon soon.

The ASEM summit was held with the theme” Global Partners for Global Challenges. The foreign minister in his speech at a plenary highlighted “Bangladesh’s democratic, secular and progressive identity as well as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s effort to promote global peace, progress and prosperity”.

He spoke on the Rohingya crisis and expressed his gratitude to the international community for their continued support to Bangladesh for resolving this complex issue with Myanmar.

He expressed his hope that the first batch of 8,000 Rohingya people would be able to return to their original villages in Rakhine State soon.

Mahmood Ali also stressed creation of greater connectivity between Asia and Europe in order to develop infrastructure, institutions and people to people contact for overall progress.

Leaders from 53 ASEM partners attended the summit. Next year, it will be held in Cambodia.