45. Telegram From the Embassy in Bangladesh to the Department of State1
2. Subj: Dec 31 SC Meeting on Iran. Ref: State 0069.2
1. (C–Entire text)
2. Prior to the receipt of reftel, Foreign Minister Shamsul Haq and Foreign Secretary Kibria asked me to come to the Foreign Ministry on January 1 in order to convey to me President Zia’s desire for good relations with the US despite Bangladesh’s abstention in New York. I replied that the United States Government was deeply disappointed at Bangladesh’s position. I said I was greatly concerned about the effect of Bangladesh’s abstention on the future of US-Bangladesh relations. Since the meeting I have, as instructed reftel conveyed to Kibria the dissatisfaction of the USG and informed him that neither the American Government nor the American people can understand such abstention on a matter of such importance to the US and the civilized community of nations.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800005–0004. Secret; Immediate.↩
- Telegram 69 to multiple posts, January 1, directed Chiefs of Mission to express either gratification or dissatisfaction to their host country’s governments for their support or lack thereof for UNSC Resolution 461, which was adopted on December 31, 1979. The telegram instructed the Embassy in Dacca to “indicate to host government our dissatisfaction with their abstention on this resolution. You should say that whatever the particular considerations which led host government to abstain, neither the American Government nor the American people can understand such abstention on a matter of such importance to US and to the civilized community of nations.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800004–1052)↩