BANGLADESH: UNGA HIGH LEVEL ATTENDANCE AT 60TH UNGA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 004330 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/UNO HARRIS USUN FOR POL NSC FOR WILLIAM-MANIGAULT SA/RA FOR SCHLOSSER SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV OVIP BG UNGA SUBJECT: BANGLADESH: UNGA HIGH LEVEL ATTENDANCE AT 60TH UNGA REF: (A) State 00122846 (B) Dhaka 03697 ¶1. Following is updated information about Bangladesh participation in the 60th UNGA in New York per Reftel. ¶A. Attendance of Head of State: President Iajuddin Ahmed is NOT/NOT attending the 60th UNGA. ¶B. Attendance of the Head of Government. --Name: Begum Khaleda Zia, Title: Prime Minister --Arrival: At JFK International Airport on September 12 at 2300 hours via Biman Bangladesh VVIP flight No. BG-001. Departure: September 17 at 2100 hours. --PM Zia is not married. --PM Zia speaks fair English, however, interpretation in bangle should be required for any substantive bilateral discussions. ¶C. Attendance of Foreign Minister: Foreign Minister is NOT/NOT accompanying the Prime Minister. Post does not know yet if the Foreign Minister will attend the UNGA after the Prime Minister's departure from New York. ¶D. Attendance of other VIPs. --Name: Harris Chowdhury, Title: Political Secretary to the Prime Minister (He holds the rank of a State Minister which is one rank below the Cabinet Minister.) --Arrival: Travel dates so far are the same as the Prime Minister's. --Post is not aware of any plans for his spouse to accompany him. --No interpretation will be required for bilateral discussion. --Name: Reaz Rahman, Title: Advisor on Foreign Affairs (He holds the rank of a State Minister which is one rank below the Cabinet Minister). In the order of precedence, Rahman is the highest ranking official accompanying the Prime Minister. --Arrival: Travel dates for him so far are the same as the Prime Minister's. --Post is not aware of any plans for his spouse to accompany him. --No interpretation will be required for bilateral discussions. --Name: Mohammad Mosaddak Ali, Title: Member of Parliament. -Arrival: His travel dates so far are same as the Prime Minister's. --Post if not aware of any plans for his spouse to accompany him. --Mr. Ali will require Bangla translation for any discussions. --Name: Rozy Kabir, Title: Member of Parliament-Select, and Personal assistant to the Prime Minister. --Arrival: Her travel dates so far are the same as the Prime Minister. --Post is not aware of any plans for her spouse to join her on this trip. --Mr. Kabir will require Bangla translation for any discussions. ¶E. Attendance of foreign ministry official responsible for IO affairs. --Name: Fazlul Karim, Title: Director General, UN desk --Arrival: His travel dates so far are same as the Prime Minister's. --Post is not aware of any plans for his spouse to accompany him. --No interpretation will be needed for bilateral discussions. ¶2. The Prime Minister's entourage may consist of 26 members, excluding her. The entourage includes security officials, her personal staff, and press and Television crew. The Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA, Mr. Shamsher M. Chowdhury, and the Bangladesh Permanent secretary to the UN, Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, are also scheduled to join the Bangladesh delegation to the UN. Chammas