MIZZIMA : INDIA-BURMA TIES (r)

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	India had supported Burma's democracy movement during and after
the 1988 nation-wide people's uprising, in which the peaceful
demonstrators demanded for the political and economic changes in the
country. It was till 1994 when the then Congress government led by Mr
Narasimha Rao openly initiated to "normalize" the relationship between the
two neighbouring countries. In January 1994, then SLORC's Deputy Foreign
Minister U Nyunt Swe arrived at New Delhi and held a series of meetings
with Indian ministerial officials in improving the relationship between
India and Burma. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two
countries to regularise and promote trade across the border areas.
Indo-Burma border trade was officially inaugurated on 12th April 1995 at
Moreh, a border township of India. The two countries have been regularly
meeting in various levels since that time, especially between the
officials in the border in exchange of information. Indian Foreign
Secretary's current visit is a part of India's long-term policy towards
Burma, as Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswat Singh put it "There is a
government there. A government will work with another government".  

MIZZIMA NEWS GROUP

New phase in ties with Myanmar

By Atul Aneja : The Hindu Newspaper
New Delhi, Feb. 26, 1999

Indian and Myanmar are about to begin a new phase of pragmatic engagement
focusing on economic, scientific and security issues.

The Indian initiative, which is part of its "look East Policy," can be
seen in the on-going visit to Myanmar by the Foreign Secretary, Mr K.
Raghunath. A "broad-based" dialogue which is likely to have a long-term
impact on the relationship has commenced.

Mr Raghunath's trip is the first in six years by an Indian Foreign
Secretary. Mr J.N.Dixit had visited Yangon in 1993, soon after India made
a policy decision to re-engage its eastern neighbor.

The Minister of State for External Affairs, Ms Vasundhara Raje, however,
was in Myanmar to attend a commercial exhibition.

The two sides, during the Foreign Secretary's trip, are likely to discuss
ways to regularise their high-level contacts. "We attach great importance
t our relationship with Myanmar and would not like an irregularity in
two-way communication," the sources said.

FROM THE ASIAN AGE, 27TH FEBRUARY 1999