Dhaka, Sept 29 (BDNEWS) - Terming the postponed move to hold an international conference by the diplomat's Tuesday Group as 'unwarranted', the government Thursday said it will oppose if it feels that some move by foreign embassies or governments tantamount to interference in the internal affairs of the country.
"For any sovereign country, if it feels that some move by foreign embassies or governments tantamount to interference in internal affairs, it will be opposed. It is a normal practice," Foreign Secretary (FS) Hemayetuddin told journalists.
When asked about the western diplomats' informal club Tuesday Group's "disappointment" as the government did not welcome their move to hold the conference, the FS said the proposal to hold the proposed international conference on election reform was in government's opinion "unwarranted".
The government's position on the so-called conference on the best electoral process is well-known and has been clearly stated several times, he said adding that Bangladesh and its people are deeply committed to democracy.
Governments are elected through free and fair elections, the mechanism, which codified in the Constitution of the country, he added.
Hemayetuddin said that past few elections have been held in a free, fair and democratic manner and these were recognised by the international community. "Elections in our country are a matter of people to decide."
The 'Tuesday Group' Wednesday through a fax message to the media said it postponed its plan to hold a conference "until a more opportune time".
"In the circumstances, the Tuesday Group has decided to postpone its conference initiative until a more opportune time and, meanwhile, it will pursue additional initiatives which are intended to promote international standards and the best electoral practices in support of free and fair parliamentary elections in Bangladesh," said David Sproule.
In the release, Sproule, the chair of the Tuesday Group, expressed "disappointment over the government's decision not to welcome" group's international conference on the best electoral practices, which was scheduled to take place in Dhaka on January 22-23, 2006.
Earlier, the government rejected Group's planned conference last week as the Canadian High Commissioner David Sproule and Norwegian Ambassador Aud Lise Norheim met Foreign Affairs Adviser Reaz Rahman and sought government's permission to hold it.
Reaz told the envoys the other day that their initiative would be "interference in country's internal politics and counter-productive."
The 'Tuesday Group' comprises the ambassadors and high commissioners of Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA plus the Ambassador of the European Commission and the UN Resident Coordinator.
BDNEWS/1745 hrs
