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Home , Chittagong Hill Tracts

Points for meeting with the Prime Minister of . May 1999

• Extend congratulations to the PM on being awarded the 1999 UNESCO Peace Prize.

• Enquire about implementation of the Hill Tracts accord and water-sharing treaty, and reaffirm willingness of UN system to assist in this regard.

• Thank Bangladesh for its major contribution to PKOs. Apologize for UN arrears of over $16 m.

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• Express appreciation for PM Hasina's efforts to defuse tensions in the region after the nuclear tests by and Pakistan. Urge Bangladesh to ratify the CTBT as soon as possible.

• Express hope that Government and opposition will work together effectively to strengthen democratic system and further economic growth.

• Discuss progress in the UN's contribution to relief and rehabilitation effort following last year's flood. BRIEFING NOTE FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MEETING WITH H.E. WAJED PRIME MINISTER OF BANGLADESH

UNESCO Prize: On 1 April 1999, PM Sheikh Hasina was awarded the Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize by UNESCO (along with US Senator George Mitchell), in recognition of her work for ending a national conflict in Bangladesh. In December 1997, she signed a peace agreement with the to end the 25-year insurgency in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in south-eastern Bangladesh.

• Bangladesh and the UN: Bangladesh is the second largest troop contributor and participates in seven PKOs. As of March 1999, UN owed Bangladesh $9.1 m. for troop contributions and $7.7 m. for contingent-owned equipment and other claims.

• Bangladesh is the candidate for the non-permanent Asian seat on the Security Council starting in 2000, replacing Bahrain.

• Regional issues: Bangladesh/India relations improved notably since PM Hasina's Awami League came to power. A landmark agreement on water-sharing of the Ganges was signed in December 1996.

• PM Sheikh Hasina visited India and Pakistan in June 1998 to try to defuse tensions in the region arising from their nuclear tests and to encourage them to resolve their differences peacefully. However, India opposes any third-party mediation in Indo- Pakistani matters. Sheikh Hasina also received Special Envoy de Soto in his mission to in June-July 1998 to raise concerns regarding the tests.

• Internal situation: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), ousted in polls in June 1996, has emulated former Awami League tactics in an effort to undermine the government by frequently boycotting parliament and calling nationwide strikes and protests.

• More than two-thirds of Bangladesh was inundated by the longest lasting monsoon floods in its history in 1998, causing deaths of almost 900 people and affecting 31 million people. In August 1998, the Government of Bangladesh issued an appeal for international assistance to cover emergency relief and initial rehabilitation needs. A UN Flash Appeal for Relief to the Victims of the Floods (for $223 million) was issued in support of the Government's appeal. In total, 75% of needs outlined in the UN Flash Appeal had been met by the end of November 1998.

'^^---v? -i±-TVn- Zdzislaw Nicinski Approved by: FrSncesc Vendrell 10 May 1999 Director, APD/DPA tn' n so, 38. si

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