Sarah praises BD for US peacekeeping

DHAKA: Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni categorically said that Bangladesh’s credential in democratic institution building and socio-economic development makes it a potential partner for civilian capacities deployment in post-conflict situations, which are mostly in the developing countries.

She came up with the observation at her office on Sunday morning when Sarah Cliffe, UN Assistant Secretary General (ASG) and Special Adviser on Civilian Capacities called on the foreign minister.

Praising Bangladesh for its longstanding and robust support to UN’s peacekeeping and peace-building efforts, the UN Assistant Secretary General said, “Bangladesh is uniquely positioned as a leading global agent of peace and development, to deploy civilian experts and professionals for nation building activities under the UN to sustain peace in post-conflict countries.”

The Foreign Minister assured the ASG of Bangladesh’s readiness to deploy civilian experts especially in the area of free and fair elections, human rights institutions, development, social safety net and natural disaster risk reduction as well as in ICT in post-conflict situations in line with Bangladesh’s foreign policy commitment to promote peace and development globally as major internationally acclaimed contributions to UN peace-keeping and peace-building activities.

The Foreign Minister recommended triangular cooperation for deploying civilian capacities from developing countries to other post-conflict developing countries with the support from the donor countries.

Sarah Cliffe, who is on a one-day visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed at least 40 government and non-governmental organizations at a workshop organized at the Ministry premise this afternoon on how to enhance Bangladesh’s civilian expert participation in UN’s ‘CapMatch’ web portal for bringing sustainable peace in post-conflict countries.

The workshop chaired by Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes and moderated by DG (UN) Saida Muna Tasneem was attended by senior representatives from the Armed Forces Division, Ministries of Home, Public Administration, Agriculture, Disaster Management and Relief LGRD, Education, Economic Relations Division, Election Commission.

Professional associations such as the Bangladesh Computer Council, NRB Association, UNDP, Bangladesh and NGOs such as BRAC and BEI, Bangladeshi civilian institutions both public and private, will upload civilian expertise in UN’s ‘CapMatch’ web portal to match their civilian capacities with demands posted by post-conflict countries under UN peacekeeping and peace-building mandate.

The Workshop was inaugurated by Foreign Secretary M Mijarul Quayes who stressed that the UN should prioritize civilian capacity sharing of the Global South in particular, under the South-South Cooperation umbrella, including in mediation and institution building for preventing relapse of conflicts.

BDST: 1820 HRS, NOV 11, 2012
Edited by: Abul Kalam Azad, Newsroom Editor/ M. Mahbub Alam, Asst Output Editor/ SM Salahuddin, Output Editor