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Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has urged the diplomats to evolve and implement creative strategy to protect the interests of the country under any circumstance.
Addressing the officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the city Thursday on the occasion of the successful completion of the 13th SAARC summit, Khaleda Zia asked them to become more active, sincere and dedicated to help Bangladesh maintaining its coveted seat of honour in the global arena through their creative and innovative diplomatic practices.
Extending her sincere thanks to all officers for making the just-concluded SAARC summit successful through their relentless efforts, the Prime Minister said the expectation that the Dhaka summit should be recognised as a millennium model in terms of substance and arrangements was fulfilled.
Describing the summit as a turning point for SAARC, Khaleda Zia, the new SAARC chairperson, said the decade of implementing commitments will begin now.
The Prime Minister underlined the need for starting the process of implementing the commitments that have been made at the highest level of the summit by formulating work-plans quickly.
Khaleda Zia also urged the officers of the MOFA to avail the opportunities and potentials being provided by the SAARC and also face the challenges in view of the changing political and economic condition in South Asia.
Held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the function was also addressed by Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan and Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin.
Adviser of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman and officers of MOFA attended the meeting.
Khaleda Zia said a well-organised ill-campaign is being orchestrated against the country in the outside world and urged the diplomats to remain alert and to tackle any such situation promptly.
The Prime Minister said diplomacy has now taken the turn of 'direct war' to a large extent and propaganda is being considered as a 'strong weapon' in this fight.
Reminding the diplomats of the main goal of Bangladesh's foreign policy, the Prime Minister urged them to work for well protecting the interests of the country in the outside world and uphold its true image.
Evaluating the prevailing global situation as far more complex than any time of the past and also adverse in some cases, Khaleda Zia said it is not enough to face such situation with traditional way of diplomacy but they need to remain more cautious, alert, skilful, active, agile and prudent.
The new SAARC chairperson said that Bangladesh would like to make its SAARC tenure more lively and work-oriented instead of limiting it only to ceremonies.
Khaleda Zia, in this connection, suggested to entrust an officer of a rank of secretary or additional secretary with the task of supervising SAARC desk for overseeing the activities of the regional body, undertake initiatives and implement other programmes to bring dynamism.
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