India playing constructive role in Myanmar's national reconciliation: Ibrahim Gambari

New Delhi, Feb 1 : The United Nations (UN) special envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, has said that India, as a member of the group of friends, has been playing a constructive role in persuading Myanmar towards national reconciliation.

After meeting External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday, he said that the international community was looking forward to a peaceful and stable Myanmar. He said: "We want a peaceful, prosperous and stable Myanmar, that is moving along the path of democratization with full respect of human rights of its people. These goals we share, and pursuing the strategies for this."

"There are lot of conversations going on between India and Government of Myanmar. We think right messages are being conveyed on behalf of Secretary General. But, we now want to see all of that lead to tangible results, in terms of an all-inclusive national reconciliation process, faster process to democracy with full respect for the human rights of its people," Gambari added.

Myanmar had seen a large number of Buddhist monks protesting in the country in October last year, calling for democracy and an end to the military government.

The international community including the United Nations had condemned the use of force by Myanmar authorities against pro-democracy demonstrators staging the biggest anti-junta protests in 20 years.

The crackdown prompted criticism even from China and condemnation from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Myanmar is a member.

India shares a 1,645-km border on its east with Myanmar and relations between the neighbours go back centuries to the time Buddhism was born in the subcontinent and spread across the region. Although New Delhi initially supported Nobel laureate Aung Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, it changed its strategy in the early 1990s to court the military regime in what is seen as an effort to counter China.

India has invested in developing ports, building roads and railways and is also competing with Beijing for Myanmar's oil and gas reserves.

India and Myanmar have also exchanged several high-level visits in recent years. ANI