Foreign secretary on Myanmar visit

India is very clear that it doesn't want UN sanctions in Myanmar. In a way, the UN too may be veering round to that position, though it continues to hold the threat of sanctions.

As a matter of fact, diplomatic sources said Myanmarese exiles are also beginning to oppose the sanctions demand that has also been endorsed by Aung San Suu Kyi. For instance, it has been seen that the recent ban on jewellery exports by the EU has not hit the government, but the small jewellery traders, a point of view India has held for some time.

Nevertheless, Gambari presented India with a list of demands that the UN wanted India to pass on to Myanmar. In fact, during his meetings with the Indian leadership, Gambari had told TOI, New Delhi had committed to putting diplomatic boots on the ground in Myanmar.

Menon's visit is also intended to work on bilateral issues like the Kaladan multi-modal transport system as well as the strategically important Sittwe port, which is being developed by India at a cost of $120 million.

The negotiations for the Kaladan project have been completed and will be signed when Myanmar's General Maung Aye visits New Delhi in April.

India's message to Myanmar is this — it should speed up its process of political reforms and national reconciliation which includes all the various ethnic groups as well as political opposition like Aung San Suu Kyi. But it is unlikely that India will push the democracy envelope too far, because that might be counter-productive.