VZCZCXRO2418
PP RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKA #0092/01 0310854
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 310854Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9957
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZJ/HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON PRIORITY 2991
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0200
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000092 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2020 
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN KVIR PINR BM KN BG
SUBJECT: ON THE RIGHT TRACK: PDAS MOON VISIT HIGHLIGHTS 
U.S.-BANGLADESH CONVERGENCE 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty.  Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
¶1.    (C) In January 21 meetings at the Foreign Ministry, SCA 
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Moon and the Ambassador 
underscored opportunities for closer U.S.- Bangladesh 
cooperation on a wide range of issues including regional 
integration, refugees, and multilateral issues.  The Foreign 
Minister and Foreign Secretary Quayes separately explained 
that Bangladesh,s rapprochement with India reflected an 
intent to build closer links throughout the region. The 
Foreign Secretary acknowledged differences on some 
multilateral issues, reiterating the GOB,s position against 
UN country-specific human rights resolutions and uncertainty 
about Kosovo recognition.  The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed 
Bangladesh,s reluctance to document Rohingya refugees but 
left the door open for further efforts to improve the plight 
of the refugees while urging greater repatriation efforts. 
End Summary. 
 
A Friend of the United States 
----------------------------- 
¶2.    (C) During a January 21 meeting, PDAS Moon told FM Dipu 
Moni that he was encouraged by the strength of 
U.S.-Bangladesh relations and was pleased to be paying his 
first visit to Dhaka.  The Foreign Minister concurred, adding 
that the U.S. and Bangladesh agreed on most issues in 
international fora.  She noted that when the U.S. Government 
recognized &Bangladesh as a friend it is a source of great 
strength8 for her country.  The Foreign Minister emphasized 
that the Awami League government had worked hard to improve 
Bangladesh,s relations with others in the region and to 
better integrate South Asia as a whole. Moni welcomed 
additional U.S. support and repeated previous invitations for 
Secretary Clinton and President Obama to visit Bangladesh. 
 
Indo-Bangladesh relations: A new beginning? 
------------------------------------------- 
¶3.    (C) PDAS Moon welcomed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,s 
successful visit to India and expressed hope for greater 
cooperation between the two countries.  Foreign Minister Moni 
emphasized that the Government of Bangladesh sought greater 
cooperation in the South Asia region and not just an 
improvement in bilateral ties with India. 
 
¶4. (C) In their earlier meeting, Foreign Secretary Quayes 
told PDAS Moon that Bangladesh could address the great power 
disparities with India in one of two ways.  The first was 
that Bangladesh, as a relatively powerless country, could 
turn inward and shut itself off from the rest of the world. 
The other would be to focus on regional integration and treat 
the border as a &frontier of opportunity8 whereby India 
could become part of &our space8 and Bangladesh could be 
part of India,s.  He opined these polar opposite approaches 
had their roots in the partition of India, and reflected the 
dominant streams of thought at the time: the two-nation 
theory which divided people along religious lines or the idea 
that Bengalis should be treated as a composite whole 
irrespective of religion.  FS Quayes added that neither the 
GOB nor the GOI had any insoluble demands and that the 
primary issue in negotiations between the two countries had 
been how to properly sequence the steps towards closer 
cooperation.  He reiterated that the bilateral discussions 
were part of a broader effort GOB towards greater regional 
integration. 
 
United Nations Votes 
-------------------- 
¶5.    (C) PDAS Moon expressed to FS Quayes disappointment at 
Bangladesh,s decision to oppose country specific UN Human 
Rights resolutions on Burma, North Korea and Iran.  With 
regard to the latter, PDAS Moon noted the support the 
resolution had received from several states in the 
Organization of Islamic Conference.  Quayes insisted that 
Bangladesh wanted to build a foreign policy based on values. 
However, Quayes noted, the UN General Assembly and other 
constituent bodies had passed several rounds of country 
specific resolutions, which Bangladesh, as a rule, opposed. 
He asserted that Bangladesh,s vote did not reflect a broader 
position, but instead pointed to the need for other avenues 
for engagement.  The FS explained that in the case of the UN 
vote on the human rights situation in Burma, Bangladesh had 
to take into consideration its relations with a country with 
which it shared a border and a number of outstanding 
 
DHAKA 00000092  002 OF 002 
 
 
bilateral issues.  The Ambassador pointed out that in regard 
to Iran, Bangladesh had little to lose politically given 
fellow OIC-member Saudi Arabia,s support for the resolution 
and the absence of any close linkages like Burma).  Moon 
added that human rights issues were internationally accepted 
principles and that the world community must unite in their 
favor. 
 
Rohingya Refugees 
----------------- 
¶6.    (C) PDAS Moon told the Foreign Secretary the U.S. 
Government wished to see greater numbers of Rohingya properly 
documented and was willing to offer assistance.  The Foreign 
Secretary reiterated the GOB,s adherence to the principle of 
non-refoulement of refugees.  He mentioned that he had 
recently visited the refugee camps and added that Bangladesh 
was in a bind with regard to the Rohingya, as it had reason 
to believe that many who had been repatriated earlier had not 
stayed in Burma.  He argued that formal registration under 
the auspices of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees would 
unduly complicate matters and create difficulties, given 
local sentiment against the Rohingya.  Bangladesh was looking 
along with the International Organization for Migration at 
alternatives to formal registration.  Quayes called for the 
international community to encourage Burma to ensure proper 
repatriation of refugees in order to avoid the endless cycle 
of repatriation and protection.  He said the Government of 
Burma and donors should provide more development assistance 
to reintegrate the Rohingya population. 
 
Kosovo Recognition 
------------------ 
¶7.    (C) The Ambassador and PDAS Moon raised the issue of 
Kosovo recognition with the Foreign Secretary, who said 
Bangladesh had not yet made a decision whether it would 
recognize Kosovo.  Quayes said he valued the U.S. viewpoint 
and admitted that the arguments for recognition were 
compelling.  However, Bangladesh was concerned about the 
security of small countries and the precedent that would be 
created for all states facing ethnic problems by the 
recognition of Kosovo. 
 
Comment 
------- 
¶8.    (C) Despite disappointing votes by Bangladesh in the 
UN, the GOB recognizes its shared interests and values with 
the United States.  Bangladesh,s effort to improve relations 
with India and other South Asian countries, promoting further 
regional economic integration and security cooperation, is in 
the direct U.S. national interest.  While domestic political 
considerations impede GOB documentation of Rohingyas, it was 
encouraging to hear that Bangladesh was considering 
alternatives to encourage more durable repatriation efforts. 
For now, Bangladesh,s policy on Iran and Kosovo remains 
hostage to the bureaucracy.  Post will continue to encourage 
improved regional ties, practical steps to help the 
Rohingyas, and more UN votes consistent with U.S. interests. 
MORIARTY