The United States wants diplomatic efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis rather than “punishing” Myanmar.
“Our objective is to solve the problem, not punish...we have already talked to Bangladesh, Myanmar and various UN bodies to solve the crisis,” said the visiting US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon in Dhaka on Sunday.
Shannon made the remarks while responding to a query at a press briefing following the 6th US-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue held at the state guesthouse Padma in the capital.
His comments came when Bangladesh continues to call upon international community, including the US, to put ‘sustained political pressure’ on Myanmar government for taking back the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals and stopping violence in Rakhine state.
Asked about the bill placed in US Senate to impose sanction on Myanmar, the US official said, “We have sanction tools in our hand, but our focus is to solve the problem and see diplomatic solutions to the crisis”.
He said that the US focus is also to address humanitarian needs to those who fled to Bangladesh following violence in Rakhine state in Myanmar since August 25.
Shannon appreciated the generosity of the government and people of Bangladesh in responding to the over half a million Rohingya refugees who have arrived in Bangladesh.
More than 607,000 Rohingya refugees were forced to leave their home and several thousands were killed in the violence in the Rakhine state of Myanmar since August 25.
Earlier, Shannon told the 6th US-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue that he reiterated the alarm expressed by officials at the highest levels of the U.S. government, including President Trump, regarding the scale of the atrocities that are being reported in northern Rakhine State.
The US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon and Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque led their respective sides to the dialogue held in a free fair and cordial atmosphere.
The both sides discussed issues relating to bilateral, regional and global interest. The safe, sustainable and dignified return of the forcibly displaced Myanmar Nationals was also discussed during the dialogue prominently, said a foreign ministry press statement.
The Bangladesh side informed the US delegation that people from Myanmar are still crossing the border and coming to Bangladesh in hundreds and thousands everyday narrating stories of atrocities that are contributing to the continued influx of Rohingyas from the Rakhine State in Myanmar to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh also elaborated on the initiatives undertaken by the government in temporarily sheltering the huge number of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, and providing emergency humanitarian assistance to these hapless people.
The U.S. side also assured Bangladesh side of their continued political support and actions, including financial assistance, to address this man-made humanitarian catastrophe of nearly unmanageable magnitude, the statement said.
The both sides reiterated their commitment to working more closely to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries and take the relationship to greater heights, it added.
The 7th round of Bangladesh and the USA Partnership Dialogue will take place in Washington D.C. next year.
Source: BSS