India, Myanmar to deepen energy, communication ties during junta leaders

31 (KUNA) -- India and Myanmar are expected to sign an agreement on Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Project and strengthen energy ties when the military juntas second most important man Vice Senior General Maung Aye pays a visit to Delhi later this week. During his visit, Gen Aye would hold discussions with the Indian leadership on economic cooperation and border trade, connectivity, security and energy issues, a source in the Indian External Affairs Ministry told KUNA here Monday.
Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Project is estimated to cost 100 million usd. It will connect India to Southeast Asia and provide an alternative route for transport of goods to the country's Northeast. It is meant to link Sittwe port in Myanmar via Paletwa to Mizoram, a state in Northeast India by road and inland water. The project is expected to be completed by 2010.
"Kaladan project has been the centre-piece of the diplomatic and strategic edifice that India is building with Myanmar over the past few years," the source pointed out.
The Project will provide an alternative route to Indias Northeastern states from mainland, bypassing Bangladesh which is yet to grant transit rights to India. Following six rounds of talks since 2003, India and Myanmar have agreed on the Draft Framework Agreement on the Project, Draft Protocol on Facilitation of Transit Transport, Draft Protocol on Financial Arrangements and Draft Protocol on Joint Maintenance and Administration, the source informed. According to the Protocol on Financial Arrangements, Myanmar would contribute ten million usd and free land for the project while India will provide the balance amount and extra if any, the source said. Earlier this month, India and Myanmar held their 14th round of annual Home Secretary level talks here to discuss various institutional mechanisms to strengthen security cooperation. At the four-day meeting, various issues of mutual concern including cross-border terrorism, smuggling of arms and narcotic drugs, effective border management, border trade and cross-border projects were discussed. "Myanmar is a close and friendly neighbour, with whom India shares a border of more than 1,600 km. We hope that Myanmars on-going national reconciliation and political reform process and the recognition of the need to expedite the process will make it more inclusive so as to ensure peaceful and stable democratisation. India is extending all help to the UN in this regard as well, " the source pointed out. India's Myanmar policy is based on four factors -- the increasing engagement between China and Myanmar particularly in the field of defence, the presence of Indian insurgent groups there, abundance of hydrocarbons in Myanmar and the country being India's gateway to Southeast Asia. Number of insurgent groups from India's Northeast operate from hideouts in Eastern Myanmar and India has been working with the Myanmarese junta to combat these rebels. (end) dr.bz.