Indian Foreign Secretary to discuss bilateral cooperation with Burma

An official at India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Menon, who left for Naypyitaw on Thursday, will meet his Burmese counterpart Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Thu.

"The agenda for their discussion will mainly be on bilateral cooperation. It is likely to include the Kaladan multi-project and the development of Sittwe port," MEA's Burma Desk spokesperson told Mizzima.

While failing to answer whether Menon will convey to his Burmese counterpart of the need for political reform, which India has agreed to in talks with the U.N. Special Envoy to Burma, the MEA official said, "It is unlikely, though, I am not sure as yet."

Menon's trip to Burma comes a week after the U.N. Special Envoy's visit to New Delhi, where India promised to step up cooperation with the world body's efforts to pursue political reform in military-ruled Burma.

Ramesh Ramachandran, a New Delhi-based special correspondent for The Asian Age who follows Indo-Burmese relations, said while the push for political reform in Burma is likely to arise during the talks, bilateral economic relations are likely to be high on the agenda.

India, and its relationship with Burma's military generals, has come under heavy pressure from the international community, including the United Nations, and India is likely to be forced to raise the issue of political reform in its talks with Burma, said Ramachandran.

"But India has its own interests to look for and is maintaining its relationship with the junta," he added.

India is currently developing a $120 million port in Sittwe and is looking forward to signing the final deal on the Kaladan multi-project, which according to a source in the MEA will take place during a visit by the Burmese junta's second man, Vice-Senior General Maung Aye, in April.

Ramachandran said there has been no shift in India's policy towards Burma, including the supply of arms and military hardware, though it is temporarily halting the shipment of military supplies.

Menon's trip, which will end on February 10, is part of a regular series of visits which began in late 2004, when Burma's military head of state Senior General Than Shwe made a state visit to New Delhi.

Since then, India and Burma have held regular meetings at various levels, including low level bi-annual military meetings.

"Unless India sees a greater interest in a democratic Burma, by and large its policy will remain the same," said Nyo Tun, a New Delhi-based representative for the Democratic Party for New Society, Burma's biggest student political party.