Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni has highlighted the nexus between climate change challenges and security and called for expanding the security discourse in the ARF.

She was speaking at the 18th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held in Bali on Saturday, which was attended by 26 Ministers from the participating countries. United States Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna, Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, and the Foreign Ministers of China, Japan, Australia, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and other ASEAN countries also participated the meeting, a foreign ministry press statement said in the capital, Dhaka.

Dr. Dipu Moni specially highlighted the security implications from global warming and its resultant sea-level rise that could cause extensive climate change induced displacements.

She urged to have a legally binding agreement for emission cuts and institutionalize a global compact on adoption, mitigation, financing and technology transfer.

The foreign minister also referred to the previous night’s terrorist incident in Oslo, Norway and reiterated Bangladesh’s various commitments to condemning and countering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

She also urged the member states to address the root cause of terrorism and underscored the need for pro-active initiatives such as promoting a culture of peace and ethnic and religious inclusion.  

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes also attended the meeting.

BBN/SSR/AD-23July11-4:20 pm (BST)