India promises to play positive role in Myanmar
India on Tuesday said it would play a `positive role’ to help Myanmar move towards democracy but cautioned that any initiative should be “mindful of the need for a peaceful and stable Myanmar.’’
By TNN |
NEW DELHI : India on Tuesday said it would play a `positive role’ to help Myanmar move towards democracy but cautioned that any initiative should be “mindful of the need for a peaceful and stable Myanmar.’’
This was conveyed to UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari who is on a six-nation tour to urge countries to exert pressure on the Myanmar’s military junta to move faster towards democracy.
New Delhi, which is not willing to take a tough line against the military junta, reiterated that India has`` multi-dimensional linkages with Myanmar’’
``Consequently, initiatives should be mindful of the need for a peaceful and stable Myanmar. India will continue to play a constructive and positive role, along with like-minded countries, to this end,’’ said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Navtej Sarna indicating that there was no real change of policy towards Myanmar. New Delhi’s position is that instability in Myanmar will have a direct impact on India’s security.
Nevertheless, New Delhi pulled out all the stops to reassure the UN envoy about India’s support for the UN role in the Myanmar crisis with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee meeting with Mr Gambari, who was carrying a special message from UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon,.
After meeting with Mr Singh and Mr Mukherjee, Mr Gambari said, “I am encouraged by the undertaking which they have given to do everything possible ... use their influence to encourage the authorities in Myanmar to continue their cooperation and to deliver tangible results,” he told reporters. He added: ``It is up to India to decide what more it can do.’’
Mr Gambari said: “If all of us can club our efforts to get the government of Myanmar to continue to respond positively to that, then I think that will be very good,” he said
During discussions with the Indian leadership, Mr Gambari delivered a message from UN Secretary General expressing encouragement with the steps taken by the junta, briefed the government on developments since his last visit to Myanmar and sought India’s support for UN Secretary General’s Good Offices and the Special Envoy’s mission, an MEA statement said.
Mr Mukherjee in turn told Mr Gambari that the entire process should be ``broad-based to include all sections of society’’ and that the UN ``should facilitate the political reform process in a constructive way, through an integrated and comprehensive approach.’’
This was conveyed to UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari who is on a six-nation tour to urge countries to exert pressure on the Myanmar’s military junta to move faster towards democracy.
New Delhi, which is not willing to take a tough line against the military junta, reiterated that India has`` multi-dimensional linkages with Myanmar’’
``Consequently, initiatives should be mindful of the need for a peaceful and stable Myanmar. India will continue to play a constructive and positive role, along with like-minded countries, to this end,’’ said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Navtej Sarna indicating that there was no real change of policy towards Myanmar. New Delhi’s position is that instability in Myanmar will have a direct impact on India’s security.
Nevertheless, New Delhi pulled out all the stops to reassure the UN envoy about India’s support for the UN role in the Myanmar crisis with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee meeting with Mr Gambari, who was carrying a special message from UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon,.
After meeting with Mr Singh and Mr Mukherjee, Mr Gambari said, “I am encouraged by the undertaking which they have given to do everything possible ... use their influence to encourage the authorities in Myanmar to continue their cooperation and to deliver tangible results,” he told reporters. He added: ``It is up to India to decide what more it can do.’’
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But at the same time, the special envoy praised China’s role. He said that the meeting with the junta leadership was possible due to China. He said that he was traveling next to Beijing to ``acknowledge what they have done’’ and to ``make them do more.’’Mr Gambari said: “If all of us can club our efforts to get the government of Myanmar to continue to respond positively to that, then I think that will be very good,” he said
During discussions with the Indian leadership, Mr Gambari delivered a message from UN Secretary General expressing encouragement with the steps taken by the junta, briefed the government on developments since his last visit to Myanmar and sought India’s support for UN Secretary General’s Good Offices and the Special Envoy’s mission, an MEA statement said.
Mr Mukherjee in turn told Mr Gambari that the entire process should be ``broad-based to include all sections of society’’ and that the UN ``should facilitate the political reform process in a constructive way, through an integrated and comprehensive approach.’’
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The PM, who spoke to Mr Ban Ki Moon, reiterated ``the process of national reconciliation and political reform... should be taken forward expeditiously.”Download
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