950828

BD, Mali call

to lift Bosnia

arms embargo

DHAKA: Bangladesh and Mali called on Monday for the U.N. Security Council to lift the arms embargo against Bosnia to allow its people to exercise their right to self-defence.

The two countries issued a joint communique after a four-day visit to Bangladesh by Mali President Oumar Konare, the official BSS news agency said.

Konare and Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia called for strengthening efforts by the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to alleviate sufferings of Moslems in the former Yugoslav republic, the communique said.

Mali supported Khaleda's call for an emergency OIC summit meeting to work out a joint strategy to help Bosnian Moslems defend themselves against Serb attacks, it added. Both countries are OIC members.

During Konare's visit Bangladesh and Mali signed two agreements on trade and cultural cooperation, officials said, without giving details.

Dhaka would send a team of experts to help Mali improve its jute industry while the West African republic would possibly hire farm labourers from Bangladesh, they said.-Reuter