UN General Assembly
2013

the Parliament, city corporations, municipalities and other local bodies, without receiving any complaint. The elections commission has therefore amply proven that it can hold free, fair and credible national elections. With respect to foreign affairs, we aim to cement peace by resolving outstanding issues with our neighbours, by increasing cooperation with them through strengthening connectivity and by maintaining good relations with all countries of the world according to the dictum of the Father of the Nation, “Friendship towards all, malice towards none”. Our commitment to global peace is proved by our role as a top troop-contributor in United Nations peacekeeping operations and as a Vice-Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. It is also reflected by our position on disarmament and the nonproliferation agenda. During my first term as Prime Minister, from 1996 to 2001, Bangladesh became the first South Asian nation to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. In my current term, I am happy to again be the first in the region to have signed the Arms Trade Treaty, and