Statement made by Mr. Vinod Kumar, Additional Secretary (International Organizations & Political), Ministry of External Affairs in the meeting of the Partnership Group for Peace,  Development and Democracy in Myanmar held on
26 September, 2014

  At the outset, let me thank the UN Secretary-General for convening this meeting of the \'Partnership Group for Peace, Development and Democracy in Myanmar\'. 

2.  The change of the nomenclature of this group from \'Group of Friends of Myanmar\' to the \'Partnership Group for Peace Development and Democracy in Myanmar\' is a significant step taken by the international community in recognition of the movement by Myanmar in its path of peace, development and democracy.

3.  India\'s relationship with Myanmar is based on shared cultural, socio-economic and historical links. Our relationship has grown as a result of interaction at various levels including at the highest levels. Our External Affairs Minister visited Myanmar in August 2014 to attend the EAS/ARF Ministerial level meetings as well as for a bilateral visit. Our Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Myanmar in November 2014 for East-Asia Summit and India-ASEAN Summit.

4.  India stands ready to extend all necessary assistance in supporting Myanmar\'s democratic transition and developing the capacity of democratic institutions. Based on the requirements of Myanmar side, we organise training programmes for the Members of Parliament as well as Parliamentary staff of Myanmar in India. We are also setting up crucial capacity building institutions, namely the Advanced Centre for Agricultural Research & Education, Rice Bio Park, Myanmar Institute of Information Technology, Mandalay and Industrial Training Centres at Pakokku and Myingyan.  We hope that the activities of these centres will help Myanmar to meet future challenges of development. 

5.  India believes that sustainable development of the region is possible only through productive partnerships with immediate neighbours. We are cooperating closely on various infrastructural projects underway in Myanmar including the Kaladan Multimodal Transit-Transport Project; India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway; Tamu-Kalawa-Kalemyo Road; and Rhi-Tiddim Road. 

6.  Since 2003, we have committed US dollars 1.5 billion to Myanmar by way of grants and concessional loans in the fields of human resource development, infrastructure, agriculture, information technology, health and industrial training in Myanmar.

7.  Over the last few years, the Government of Myanmar has instituted significant political and economic reforms towards greater democratization. We have welcomed these steps. We continue to support the steps taken by the Government of Myanmar towards reform and reconciliation, with reference to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, release of political prisoners, holding of peace talks with the ethnic groups, including the Kachins, and proposal for signing of a nationwide ceasefire accord soon. These are positive steps, especially given that elections are due to take place next year.

8.  With respect to the situation in Rakhine State, we have noted that the Government of Myanmar has taken steps towards restoration of law and order. India has extended humanitarian assistance to the Government of Myanmar to support the relief, rehabilitation and community building measures being undertaken in affected areas of Rakhine province.  The international community must work with Government of Myanmar to enable it to tackle the problem.

9.  We urge that the international community assist in enabling UN agencies and international financial institutions to carry out the entire gamut of their developmental work in the country. We feel very strongly that we should extend our support to the Government of Myanmar and thus further encourage the reform measures that are already being undertaken by the Government of Myanmar.

10.  India reiterates its support to the Secretary General\'s initiative of organizing today\'s meeting of the partnership group. We also take note of first official mission of the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, Ms Yanghee Lee, in July 2014. India stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in the process of consultations with other like-minded countries on the issue. We would also like to extend our best wishes to Myanmar for its Chairmanship of ASEAN.

I thank you.

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