SyndicationBurma-Bangladesh Maritime Talks Begin
Burma-Bangladesh Maritime Talks Begin
11/16/2008
An 11-member Burma team led by Deputy Foreign Minister U Maung Myint
arrived yesterday in Dhaka to discuss the maritime demarcation boundary
with their Bangladesh counterparts, according to an official report.
The talks between the two neighboring countries began today in Dhaka
under the name "technical committee-level talks with a view to adopt a
method of demarcation".
The technical committee-level talks between the two countries on the
maritime boundary first began on 30 March this year in Dkaha, after
having stalled for 22 years.
The Bangladesh technical committee went to Rangoon in September 2008 for a second round of talks.
This is the third time the technical committees of the two countries
will sit for talks at the conference hall of the foreign ministry. The
Bangladesh team will be led by Deputy Secretary of the Foreign
Ministry, MAK Mahmud.
MAK Mahmud said, "Myanmar's trespass on Bangladesh waters is not on our
agenda. We shall focus on setting a method of principles for
delimitation. If we reach a consensus over the issue the tension will
ease automatically."
He also said the equal-distance method of demarcation is applicable for
two countries facing each other, but it will not work for adjoining
countries like Bangladesh and Burma.
Bangladesh claims that its maritime boundary is at 92 degrees, 17
minutes, 30 seconds East Longitude per the Territorial and Maritime
Zones Act of 1974.
Tension between the two neighboring nations mounted earlier this month
after Bangladesh Navy forces sent warnings to the Burmese warships and
an exploration rig that had crossed Bangladesh's maritime boundary.
Bangladesh accuses the Burmese warships and oil and gas exploration rig
of intruding into Bangladesh waters in the Bay of Bengal. The Burmese
ships completed the oil and gas exploration in Bangladesh's claimed
territory, in deep-sea blocks 8-13, in disregard for the Bangladesh
Navy warnings.
Afterward, Burma withdrew its warships and the rig from the disputed
waters, but tension over the border still remains between the two
countries.
11/16/2008
An 11-member Burma team led by Deputy Foreign Minister U Maung Myint
arrived yesterday in Dhaka to discuss the maritime demarcation boundary
with their Bangladesh counterparts, according to an official report.
The talks between the two neighboring countries began today in Dhaka
under the name "technical committee-level talks with a view to adopt a
method of demarcation".
The technical committee-level talks between the two countries on the
maritime boundary first began on 30 March this year in Dkaha, after
having stalled for 22 years.
The Bangladesh technical committee went to Rangoon in September 2008 for a second round of talks.
This is the third time the technical committees of the two countries
will sit for talks at the conference hall of the foreign ministry. The
Bangladesh team will be led by Deputy Secretary of the Foreign
Ministry, MAK Mahmud.
MAK Mahmud said, "Myanmar's trespass on Bangladesh waters is not on our
agenda. We shall focus on setting a method of principles for
delimitation. If we reach a consensus over the issue the tension will
ease automatically."
He also said the equal-distance method of demarcation is applicable for
two countries facing each other, but it will not work for adjoining
countries like Bangladesh and Burma.
Bangladesh claims that its maritime boundary is at 92 degrees, 17
minutes, 30 seconds East Longitude per the Territorial and Maritime
Zones Act of 1974.
Tension between the two neighboring nations mounted earlier this month
after Bangladesh Navy forces sent warnings to the Burmese warships and
an exploration rig that had crossed Bangladesh's maritime boundary.
Bangladesh accuses the Burmese warships and oil and gas exploration rig
of intruding into Bangladesh waters in the Bay of Bengal. The Burmese
ships completed the oil and gas exploration in Bangladesh's claimed
territory, in deep-sea blocks 8-13, in disregard for the Bangladesh
Navy warnings.
Afterward, Burma withdrew its warships and the rig from the disputed
waters, but tension over the border still remains between the two
countries.