Published: 12:18 AM, 29 March 2022 Last Update: 12:30 AM, 29 March 2022
'Solutions come from diplomacy, not from war'
From left— High Commissioner of Malta to Bangladesh Reuben Gauci, Bangladesh Parliament’s Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Honorary Consul of Malta Shoeb Chowdhury. -AA High Commissioner of Malta to Bangladesh Mr. Reuben Gauci visited The Asian Age office recently. He expressed his views on Covid 19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine War, Bangladesh-Malta bilateral relations, global economy and some other aspects. The interview was taken by Mahfuz Ul Hasib Chowdhury.
The Asian Age (AA): Good morning Excellency. We welcome you to The Asian Age. It’s your first visit to Bangladesh. How do you feel about Bangladesh?
Reuben Gauci (RG): I was impressed by the hospitality of Bangladeshi people. I presented my credentials to the Honorable President of Bangladesh on 24 March 2022. He is a very competent President. He won all the elections he contested in his political career. I like Dhaka city. It is a vibrant city. There is a sense of positivity in Dhaka city. Dhaka has become an economic hub. Bangladesh’s economy is doing very well. Roads, flyovers and other infrastructural things are being constructed to mitigate traffic jam. In Malta, we also have been building up a lot of roads to facilitate traffic movement. Malta is also doing quite well in economic terms.
AA: There was a time when Bangladeshi people did not have categorical ideas about Malta. However, since the establishment of the Consulate of Malta in Bangladesh in 2010, now Bangladeshi people are familiar with Malta. Nowadays a lot of Bangladeshi nationals go to Malta for jobs and higher studies. How do you view this matter?
RG: It’s great to hear that Malta is at present quite well-known in Bangladesh. The Honorary Consul of Malta Shoeb Chowdhury is doing a lot of work to promote Malta in Bangladesh. He is very well-known and well-connected. High Commission of Malta in India is issuing visas to many Bangladeshi nationals who are going to Malta to work over there. The community of Bangladeshi workers in Malta is increasing. Many Bangladeshi students pursue higher education in Malta. Unfortunately Covid 19 disrupted everything during last two years. However, now things are once again coming back to a normal state.
AA: What initiatives should be taken to further enhance the existing friendly bilateral relations between Malta and Bangladesh? We are living in a globalized world. So, having alliance with different countries is important for socio-economic advancement.
RG: Bangladesh and Malta share a similar past. We both were under British colonial rule. Both Malta and Bangladesh are Commonwealth members. We share the values of religious tolerance and flexibility. I have been representing Malta in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Nepal since September 2020. It’s an honour and privilege to serve in this part of the world.
AA: What can under developed countries do to recover from the adverse economic effect of Covid 19 pandemic? For example, Bangladesh is heavily dependent on foreign remittance and readymade garments (RMG) sector for its economic sustenance. Since the outbreak of Covid 19, thousands of expatriate Bangladeshi workers have come back home from their overseas workplaces. Remittances from abroad have also remarkably declined.
RG: The whole world has suffered from the adverse economic effect of Covid 19. Bangladesh is showing good resilience and is bouncing back following the shock of Covid 19 pandemic. Diversification, innovation, flexibility are required to restart the economic wheels. We need to come up with new ideas. Bangladesh is one of the tailors of the world. Bangladesh holds the second position in exporting readymade garments (RMG) products abroad right after China. I would like to congratulate Bangladesh on the quality of its RMG goods. I have become a fan of Bangladeshi garment products.
AA: We can sense the return of the Cold War era through the outset of the Russia-Ukraine War which began at the end of February 2022. How do you evaluate this phenomenon?
RG: It was an unnecessary war. We were looking forward to brighter days. But we are devastated by what is happening in Ukraine currently. My country Malta stands by the Ukrainian people. Russia should have negotiated the conflictual issues with Ukraine. Russia should not have invaded Ukraine. Diplomacy should be always on top of the agenda. Solutions come from diplomacy, not from war. All geopolitical disputes should be resolved through negotiations.
AA: What economic impact the Russia-Ukraine War can cast on the developing countries like Bangladesh, particularly the countries which have graduated from the group of least developed countries (LDC)?
RG: Apart from the fear of the war itself, petroleum prices and wheat prices have escalated all over the world. Tourism, lives and livelihoods of people in various parts of the world have been heavily affected by the Russia-Ukraine War.
AA: Refugee crisis is one of the major drawbacks in the current world because of geopolitical turmoil, war and ethnic cleansing. Bangladesh is also a victim of refugee crisis. Over one million Rohingya refugees have been sheltered on the soil of Bangladesh for last several years. Now millions of Ukrainian civilians have fled their country and have taken shelter in adjacent countries like Poland, Hungary, Romania etcetera. What do you think how can we overcome the refugee predicament? The Myanmar government killed a broad number of Rohingya people in Rakhine province. This is how the Rohingya crisis was started. The Rohingya refugees are responsible for environmental damage in Bangladesh. Some Rohingya refugees have got involved in various sorts of crimes like robbery, narcotics, illegal gun smuggling and so on.
RG: It is very admirable that Bangladesh has been very hospitable to the Rohingya migrants. Malta has also refugee crisis. A great deal of people from North Africa who are asylum-seekers come to Malta. Malta had to host a disproportionate number of migrants who suffered from manmade disasters. Now Ukrainian people are moving to the west because of the war with Russia. People in many other countries are also uprooted from their motherland and they are being compelled to seek shelter in adjacent countries because of war, persecution, economic hardship etcetera.
AA: War is going on between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, in Syria and in some other countries. Do you think this is a diplomatic failure on part of the concerned governments that led to such blood-spilling circumstances?
RG: War begins out of diplomatic failure. The world is a very complex place. War is a failure of diplomacy. Pope Pius XII once said, “Nothing is lost by peace but everything is lost by war”. He made this comment on the eve of the Second World War.
AA: Malta is one of the most beautiful island states in the world. European Film Commission has referred to Malta as a very good destination for making movies. How can Malta and Bangladesh work to promote cultural exchange between the two countries?
RG: A lot of films were shot in Malta like Gladiator, Troy, Game of Thrones, Thugs of Hindostan and many more blockbuster movies. We can certainly promote cultural exchange between Malta and Bangladesh. Cultural activists of both countries can visit Bangladesh and Malta to share cultural concepts and thoughts.
AA: Bangladesh is celebrating its independence golden jubilee and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. What’s your message to Bangladesh on this occasion?
RG: My heartiest congratulations to the sisterly and brotherly people of Bangladesh on the occasion of its independence golden jubilee and birth centenary of its father of the nation. May this occasion bring Bangladesh all the very best for everything.
AA: Human rights violations and lack of freedom of expressions are some of the grim challenges in the current world. What can international organizations like United Nations and European Union do to uphold human rights and ensure freedom of speech all over the globe?
RG: Freedom of speech and democracy are a process. Media in Bangladesh is fair and vibrant in my view. Media should fight for more freedom to say the truth, to write the truth and to be fair. Good governance and accountability are required to establish human rights in any country.
AA: Peace is the only way to stop manmade cataclysms like war and geopolitical conflicts. What role should the Nobel Peace Prize winners play to this end?
RG: The original idea of Nobel Peace Prize by Alfred Nobel was to utilize the expertise and knowledge of the Nobel laureates for peaceful purposes and for promoting peace.
AA: Thank you so much for sharing your valuable time with us.
RG: It’s my pleasure. You are most welcome.
