VZCZCXRO5528
PP RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKA #0137/01 0480950
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 170950Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0023
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000137 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO PHUM KDEM SENV BG IN
SUBJECT: A MEETING OF MINDS: U/S MCHALE AND FOREIGN 
MINISTER AGREE ON THE NEED FOR GREATER DIALOGUE AND CLOSER 
COOPERATION TO SOLVE GLOBAL PROBLEMS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty.  Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
¶1.    (C) Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public 
Affairs Judith McHale and Foreign Minister Dipu Moni 
discussed opportunities for closer multilateral 
cooperation, Indo-Bangladesh relations, climate change, and 
expanded bilateral exchange programs when they met on 
February 7.  Both agreed on the importance of greater 
dialogue and closer cooperation in order to tackle some of 
the world,s most pressing problems. The Foreign Minister 
reiterated the importance of Bangladesh,s relationship with 
India and the need to improve bilateral ties.  Moni and U/S 
McHale agreed on the benefits of increased cultural, 
educational and other forms of bilateral exchanges. 
 
A Friend of the U.S. 
-------------------- 
 
¶2.    (C) U/S McHale remarked that she looked forward to 
meeting a broad cross section of Bangladeshis during her 
first visit to the country.  She explained that her primary 
focus was to reach out and strengthen the United States, 
relationships around the world.  In this regard, she looked 
for ways to enhance cooperation with Bangladesh on a variety 
of issues including climate change 
and poverty alleviation.  The Foreign Minister noted the 
importance Bangladesh placed on its partnership with the U.S. 
and thanked the United States for supporting the country,s 
return to democracy, terming the United States "a 
great friend." 
 
Women,s Empowerment in Action 
----------------------------- 
 
¶3.    (C) Moni also pointed out that women had always played 
an important role in Bangladesh, adding that now their 
participation was coming into the formal sector.  The Under 
Secretary agreed, stating that the Secretary of State placed 
great emphasis on women,s empowerment and noting that women 
in Bangladesh had many great examples to follow such as the 
Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister.  The Under Secretary 
added she would recommend Secretary of State Clinton visit 
Bangladesh.  Moni replied that her government would welcome a 
visit. 
 
Cooperation is the name of the game 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶4.    (C) The Under Secretary emphasized the importance of 
the U.S.-Bangladesh relationship in our interdependent world. 
 She thanked the Foreign Minister for Bangladesh,s support 
for the Copenhagen Accord on Climate Change.  Moni replied 
that Bangladesh was a "frontline state" for climate change. 
She emphasized the importance of cooperation on this and 
other global issues.  Under Secretary McHale observed that by 
backing the Accord, the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) had 
demonstrated that one could have a different perspective and 
still work together with the international community.  The 
Under Secretary noted that the Government of Bangladesh was 
clearly on the right path and that the U.S. wanted to find 
ways to support it.  She added that the U.S. was eager to 
facilitate Bangladesh,s leadership role in the international 
arena. 
 
Moving Forward with India 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5.    (C) The Foreign Minister reiterated that Bangladesh,s 
relationship with India was very important and remarked on 
how closely intertwined the two countries were.  She 
recounted that children in India learned to draw maps of 
their country and Bangladesh at the same time since India,s 
land border with Bangladesh shaped nearly the entire country. 
 According to her, because of narrow political interests, 
previous governments lost focus on the need to cooperate with 
India.  Cooperation was especially important to promote 
economic growth, particularly since the countries shared 54 
rivers.  The Foreign Minister noted that Bangladesh,s 
bureaucracy and lingering suspicion of India were impediments 
to cooperation.  India, for its part, had also previously 
neglected relationships with its neighbors. 
 
Making the Case for Dialogue 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6.    (C) The Under Secretary noted the value of increased 
 
DHAKA 00000137  002 OF 002 
 
 
interaction between private citizens.  She praised 
educational and cultural exchanges and pointed out the value 
of using technology to build bridges between people.  McHale 
noted that open and frank discussion should be a key step in 
solving many of the world,s problems.  Bangladesh,s top 
diplomat, herself a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, 
agreed that all forms of exchanges were good and provided a 
better rounded perspective of the host country.  She added 
that a country as powerful and influential as the U.S. needed 
to make its case, especially at the individual level. 
 
Talking to the Muslim World... 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶7.    (C) The Under Secretary stated that the USG needed to 
do a better job of explaining its involvement around the 
world, including combating misperceptions such as the belief 
that Muslims were not welcome in the U.S. after 9/11.  She 
pointed out that one of America,s greatest strengths and 
also one of its greatest weaknesses was "our belief in 
democracy and that we can do anything." The Foreign Minister 
noted that President Obama,s speech in Cairo had been well 
received in Bangladesh and that it reflected his commitment 
and sincerity.  Under Secretary McHale said the close U.S. 
relationship with Bangladesh would help make the case that 
the U.S. was not hostile to the Muslim world. 
 
Peace Corps 
----------- 
 
¶8.    (C) Moni also asked whether the Peace Corps might be 
reinstated in Bangladesh (it departed in 2004).  The 
Ambassador explained that Post strongly believed that the 
Peace Corps should return to Bangladesh and that he had 
encouraged the Peace Corps Director to revisit this issue. 
He added that a lot of the misunderstandings between the U.S. 
and Bangladesh could be resolved by these types of person to 
person interactions that the Peace  Corps would bring. 
(Note:  We are currently awaiting an invitation from the GOB 
inviting a Peace Corps assessment team to Bangladesh. End 
note.) 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶9.    (C) The meeting with Foreign Minister Moni hit only 
high notes.  The Awami League government clearly values good 
relations with the U.S. and is making a sincere attempt to 
improve relations in the region.  We have a chance to make 
real progress in Bangladesh and in so doing advance key U.S. 
interests in South Asia and beyond.  On a variety of issues 
from food security to climate change to international 
terrorism, U.S. and Bangladeshi interests coincide.  Now is 
the time to keep the momentum going. 
MORIARTY