The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has lauded the reforms initiatives being undertaken in Bangladesh and expressed the hope that this would render democratic institutions sustainable. Ban Ki-moon's appreciation came when Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury called on him at the UN Headquarters in New York on Monday afternoon, according to a Foreign Ministry press release. The Foreign Adviser arrived in New York earlier on Monday and was scheduled to Chair a Session on poverty alleviation and education yesterday.He will also address the Plenary of the General Assembly on Millennium Development Goals in his capacity as Chairman of Least Developed Countries.

Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury informed the UN Secretary General about the determination of the Caretaker Government to hold "free, fair and credible elections in accordance with the Road Map before the end of December this year" which the Secretary General "deeply appreciated" and offered any logistic assistance in this regard that the government may wish to seek.

The Foreign Adviser strongly urged for higher representation of Bangladeshis at senior command level appointments in UN peacekeeping both in the headquarters and in the field missions in keeping with Bangladesh's troop contributions.

The Secretary General responded that positive consideration would be given to this request. He praised the "training and discipline of Bangladeshi soldiers and police on the ground" that he himself had seen whenever he had visited peacekeeping missions. Ban Ki-moon underscored the fact that the manner in which the Bangladesh government is seeking to strengthen democratic norms can be an example to many other countries.

While apprising the Secretary General of the recent political developments in Bangladesh, the Foreign Advisor told him that the government would organise a dialogue with the political parties on all domestic issues soon.

He said the people of Bangladesh hold the UN in great esteem as a custodian of international norms and standards. In this connection, the Foreign Adviser also mentioned that there is a growing demand for trial of war crimes, in which a popular sentiment has been expressed for UN involvement. Ban Ki-moon accepted the invitation by the Foreign