India, UN discuss Myanmar situation

New Delhi, July 13: India and the United Nations have agreed on the need to 'recognise positive steps' made by Myanmar and encourage Yangon to make further progress towards democratisation and improving human rights. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Adviser on Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, held discussions with Foreign Secretary Shiv Shanker Menon and other Indian officials here on the Myanmar situation as part of the consultations in major Asian capitals.

''Mr Gambari had a candid discussion with the Indian Foreign Secretary...The two found agreement on the need to recognise positive steps made by Myanmar, while at the same time encouraging it to make further progress towards democratisation and human rights,'' a senior official of the External Affairs Ministry said here today.

Mr Gambari said he intended to visit Myanmar soon, although specific dates had not yet been decided India is the second stop on Mr. Gambari's current trip to discuss Myanmar with some of the key countries in the region.

He met Chinese officials in Beijing on Monday and is scheduled to meet senior Japanese officials in Tokyo before returning to New York.

Since being appointed Special Adviser in May, Mr Gambari has held consultations on the situation in Myanmar.

India says a faction of the Naga insurgents (NSCN-K) operate from the jungles of Myanmar bordering Manipur.

Myanmar has given repeated assurances that it will not allow its territory to be used for any anti-India activity.

With some incidents of violence in Moreh and Tamu in Manipur recently, police and security officers of the two countries met at Moreh on July 2 and discussed enhanced security cooperation between the two sides.

The meeting discussed the developing law and order situation on either side of the international border and agreed on the need for enhanced security cooperation between the two sides.

UNI