ZCZC
BSS-64
BANGLADESH-JAPAN-TALKS-LEAD
(Updated with Japanese spokesperson’s comments)
Japan wants to mediate resolving Rohingya crisis : Momen
DHAKA, July 30, 2019 (BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen today said Japan has proposed to play an active role as a mediator in Tokyo between Bangladesh and Myanmar to find a peaceful solution over Rohingya crisis.
“We (Bangladesh) will consider the proposal (mediator) …. Japan has showed its political will to resolve the issue (Rohingya crisis),” he told newsmen after a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart Tara Kono at the State Guesthouse, Meghna, here.
He said Japanese foreign minister will be on Bangladesh’s side in resolving Rohingya crisis, trying convince Myanmar to act faster for creating conducive environment in Rakhine to start the repatriation process.
“He (Kono) will go to Naypydaw from here to convey our message to Myanmar,” Momen said.
He said Bangladesh warned Tokyo that Japanese investment both in Bangladesh and Myanmar may be affected if the Rohingya crisis is prolonged here as he feared that it could spread extremism in the region.
Both Bangladesh and Japan stressed that Myanmar government needs to take necessary steps for creating conducive environment inside Rakhine for ensuring safe, volunteer and dignified of the Rohingyas to their motherland.
Japanese foreign minister held the meeting after visiting and interacting with Rohingyas at their makeshift camps in Cox’s Bazar. Kono leading a 13-member delegation arrived here on Monday night on a three-day official visit, mainly to discuss the Rohingya crisis.
Besides the Rohingya issue, other matters related to further strengthening of Bangladesh-Japan ties were also discussed during the meeting.
The two sides agreed to further develop the bilateral relationship through high level mutual visits at different arenas ahead of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and Japan in 2022.
Kono sought Bangladesh’s support for Japan’s aspiration to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and for Japan’s candidature for the UNSC non-permanent membership election in 2022.
Momen assured his Japanese counterpart about Dhaka’s support for Tokyo in the election as a symbol of friendship between the two countries.
Momen also urged Japan to recruit skilled manpower from Bangladesh.
Later, at a briefing to a group of selected journalists, Deputy Press Secretary of Japanese foreign ministry Jun Saito said Japan promotes dialogue between Bangladesh and Myanmar in a general manner to find out a solution of the Rohingya problem.
“There might be some development in the coming days,” he said.
Japan, he said, has been telling Myanmar to demonstrate progress regarding resolving the crisis in a visible manner.
Sato said Minister Kono will go to Myanmar directly from here to discuss mainly the Rohingya issue and reiterated Japan’s position that Tokyo wants to see Rohingyas repatriation in a safe, voluntary and dignified manner.
Japan would not like to see the crisis as prolonged one, he added.
The Japanese foreign minister Kono today also paid his rich tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreaths at his portrait at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi here.
The Japanese foreign minister will leave here for Myanmar tomorrow.
BSS/ASG/TA/MRU/0016hrs