NEW FOREIGN MINISTER HIGHLIGHTS TRADE, AID AND CT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000070 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/PB DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR, VKADER DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID DEPT PLEASE PASS PEACE CORPS TREASURY FOR YWONG E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD EAID PTER EFIN PHUM BG SUBJECT: NEW FOREIGN MINISTER HIGHLIGHTS TRADE, AID AND CT COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES Classified By: Ambassador James Moriarty, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Bangladesh's new Foreign Minister, Dr. Dipu Moni, told the Ambassador January 15 her government's priorities included fulfilling the Awami League's election manifesto and strengthening Bangladesh's democracy. In her first meeting with the Ambassador since taking office January 6, Moni expressed a desire to deepen and widen U.S.-Bangladesh relations. She focused on bilateral trade, the Millenium Challenge Account and other development issues, as well as counter-terrorism cooperation with the United States and in South Asia. Moni expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and the Ambassador urged Bangladesh to recognize Kosovo. Engaging and articulate, Moni clearly had studied up on the issues before the meeting. She expressed optimism about her government's ability to bring change to Bangladesh and enable it to "stand tall in the region and the world." AL VICTORY A "MANDATE FOR CHANGE" -------------- ¶2. (C) Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni opened her January 15 meeting with the Ambassador by expressing her thanks for Secretary Rice's congratulatory letter and thanking the United States for standing by Bangladesh during a "difficult time," namely the past two years of the Caretaker Government. She went on to note that the Awami League's overwhelming victory in the December 29, 2008, elections provided great opportunities for the new government. Such a big win also brought with it a huge responsibility, however, and Moni expressed the hope that Bangladesh's friends, including the United States, would support the government as it moved forward. ¶3. (C) Moni agreed with the Ambassador's observation that Bangladesh needed to consolidate its democracy in the wake of the successful national election. She said the Awami League would treat the opposition political party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),as the true opposition, regardless of the fact that the BNP had won only 30 of 300 Parliament seats. Moni noted the BNP had had garnered 32 percent of the popular vote in the recent elections, roughly the same percentage with which the Awami League and BNP formed governments, in 1996 and 1991, respectively. She said the Awami Leage wanted Parliament to function effectively and to see the BNP play a role in Parliament. "We wouldn't want the opposition to feel it had to take its grievances outside Parliament," Moni said, alluding to Bangladesh's history of using street violence rather than Parliamentary debate to solve political problems. GOB WANTS TO INCREASE TRADE WITH AND AID FROM THE U.S. -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) In addition to strengthening Bangladesh's democracy, Moni said her government was focused on meeting its election promises, particularly with regard to economic growth and development. She urged the U.S. Congress to pass the New Partnership for Development Act (NPDA),which would give Bangladeshi apparel duty-free access to U.S. markets. Moni also expressed interest in reducing Bangladesh's debt to the United States, including through the Tropical Forest Conservation Act. The Ambassador noted that Bangladesh's comparative advantage in low-cost labor was such that Bangladesh could increase wages and still increase exports by diversifying production and manufacturing not just garments, but other goods, like footwear. If Bangladesh tackled its energy and corruption challenges, trade and investment here would take off, the Ambassador predicted. ¶5. (C) Moni expressed appreciation for USG assistance in a range of areas, including economic growth, food, disaster relief, and health. She said the GOB remained keen to access Millenium Challenge Account (MCA) funds, noting her view that the elections and Bangladesh's efforts to tackle corruption should improve its chances to qualify for MCA. The Ambassador urged GOB experts to work closely with the Embassy to better understand the steps Bangladesh needed to take to DHAKA 00000070 002 OF 002 qualify for an MCA threshold program. GOB TO STRENGTHEN CT EFFORTS, RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) The Foreign Minister reiterated commitments the new government has made publicly and privately to tackle terrorism, including through regional cooperation. Moni said Bangladesh had good relations with both India and Pakistan, which could enable Bangladesh to play a "useful" role in combating terrorism in South Asia. She said the GOB would "definitely" seek U.S. support for this endeavor, and she expressed appreciation for U.S. programs that enhanced the CT capabilities of Bangladesh's military and law enforcement. ¶7. (C) A focus on counterterrorism, however, would not divert Bangladesh from its obligation to protect human rights, Moni said. The GOB would be outspoken on human rights issues, including extra-judicial killings, Moni stated. She expressed a firm commitment to stopping extra-judicial killings, calling them the "worst kind of violence." GAZA AND KOSOVO DISCUSSED -------------- ¶8. (C) Turning to international issues, Moni said she was personally saddened by the situation in Gaza, in particular the problems faced by Gaza residents. She called for an end to human suffering there and asked the USG do whatever it could to ameliorate the humanitarian situation. The Ambassador cited U.S. humanitarian and diplomatic efforts to address the conflict, including vigorous assistance to Egyptian efforts. ¶9. (C) The Ambassador urged Bangladesh to recognize Kosovo. He noted the Caretaker Government had refrained from recognizing Kosovo's independence until other Muslim nations acted. The Ambassador said that Malaysian and UAE recognition had eliminated that argument for the GOB; he pointed out similarities between Kosovo and Bangladesh's quest for independence from Pakistan in 1971. Moni said she would consult with her government on this matter. COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (C) The meeting was cordial and covered all three D's of the U.S.-Bangladesh relationship: democracy, development and denial of space to terrorism. Moni was a master of detail, for example, urging passage of the NPDA trade bill, but noting such legislation should not disadvantage other least-developed countries, like beneficiaries of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Moni also made strong statements about the new government's commitment to wielding power constructively. "It's not about power, it's about responsibility," she said. MORIARTY