Ready to give "all help": India to Myanmar

From Snehesh Alex Philip Nay Pyi Daw, Aug 22 (PTI) India is ready to give "allhelp" was the message given to the Myanmarese leadership byExternal Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is here on thefirst high-level visit from India after the new governmentcame to power in March following decades of military rule. Swaraj, who called on President U Htin Kyaw here, alsoheld talks with State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung SanSuu Kyi. Congratulating Suu Kyi for the victory in the "firstgenuine election", Swaraj assured her of "all help". "India is committed to strengthening your democraticinstitutions and socio-economic development of your people,"Swaraj said during her meeting with Suu Kyi, whose NationalLeague for Democracy party won a historic landslide electionlast year that finally brought an end to five decades ofmilitary rule. Swaraj said this was the message of Prime MinisterNarendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee. The one-day trip by Swaraj, accompanied by ForeignSecretary S Jaishankar and other senior Ministry of ExternalAffairs officials, is the first high-level visit from Indiasince the civilian government took over earlier this year. Suu Kyi, the de facto leader of Myanmar and a Nobellaureate besides being a democracy icon, thanked Swaraj forthe support. Banned from becoming president by a junta-eraConstitution, Suu Kyi has a strong control over the country’sfirst civilian-led government. The Constitution effectively bans her from the top post asit rules out anyone with foreign-born children or spouses frombecoming president. Suu Kyi married and had two sons with aBritish national. The military also retains control of the key home, defenceand border affairs ministries, while 25 per cent ofparliamentary seats are reserved for unelected soldiers. Incidentally, Swaraj’s visit comes just days afterSuu Kyi made a high-profile trip to China. India and Myanmar share close relations with a robustdevelopment cooperation programme in areas such asagriculture, IT, human resource development, infrastructuredevelopment, culture among others. The visit reaffirms India’s commitment to heightenpartnership with Myanmar in the areas of priority by the newgovernment of Myanmar, External Affairs Ministry spokespersonVikas Swarup said. PTI SAP ASK PYKASK