The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Global Humanitarian Forum (GHF) an organization run by Kofi Anan Foundation assured of all cooperation to Bangladesh in facing the challenges of climate change.

The assurance came when State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Hasan Mahmud called on former secretary general of the United Nations Kofi Anan on June 24 in Geneva, an official press release said here on Thursday.

Dr Hasan discussed possible ways of addressing challenges of climate change and sought Kofi Annan's support in setting up a group of climatically vulnerable nations ahead of the Copenhagen Climate Conference to be held in December 2009.

Kofi Annan said GHF, an Africa based organization, would support all initiatives that would strengthen the voices of developing nations in climate change negotiations.

As a follow-up to this discussion, Kofi Annan requested Chief Executive Officer of GHF Walter Fust to coordinate with Bangladesh on climate change issue and provide all possible assistance.

They also discussed possibility of south-south cooperation between Bangladesh and African countries for enhancing capacity building, assistance and sharing of drought and flood resistant crops including rice.

It was suggested that experts from the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) may visit Bangladesh to explore the possibility of signing a MoU with Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).

Dr Hasan also called on President of East Timor Jose Ramos Horta and informed him of Bangladesh's proposal to form of a group of climatically vulnerable nations to raise their voices about climate change negotiations.

President Horta expressed his willingness to support such initiative and appreciated the constructive role of the Bangladeshi police contingent deployed in the UN peace building mission in East Timor.