The Hindu : Front Page : We can’t decide on Myanmar: Pranab

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Monday, Jun 16, 2008
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We can’t decide on Myanmar: Pranab

We want good ties with China, Bangladesh and Myanmar

Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

NEW SECRETARIAT: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee inaugurates the branch secretariat of the Ministry in Guwahati on Sunday. Also seen are (from right) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Minister for Panchayati Raj and Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) Mani Shankar Aiyar and Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh.

Guwahati: Often under international pressure to nudge the junta in Myanmar to usher in democracy, India on Sunday made it clear that “it is not our job to determine what kind of government is” in that country.

“It is not our job to determine what kind of government is there (in Myanmar)....economic development and peace should go side by side,” External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, while inaugurating a branch secretariat of the External Affairs Ministry here.

“We want to have good relations with China, Bangladesh and Myanmar so that trade between the North East (NE) region and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries are promoted,” he said.

Connectivity

India had over the years promoted its engagement with the military rulers in Myanmar bilaterally as well as part of its “Look-East” policy.

Mr. Mukherjee said the core issue should not be the dispute but promoting close relationship through which trade links would be established.

Stressing on the need to improve connectivity, he said economic development of the area depends on “how fast we can build connectivity between the ASEAN and neighbouring countries with NE region.”

The Minister said that prior to 1991, external relations were a subject matter of diplomats but with liberalisation there had been a transformation in the economic system, where the States had a major role to play.

India’s trade target

Mr. Mukherjee said India had fixed a target of trade worth $ 60 million by 2020 with the ASEAN countries with which sectoral dialogues had already started. PTI

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