Both were in blue. But the colour didn't reflect the mood when external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj met Myanmar's State Counsellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Aung San Suu Kyi with an all women delegation in her office on Friday. Swaraj is on a two-day trip to Myanmar in a bid to strengthen bilateral relationships. The visit is part of the “on-going high level interaction'' between the two countries.
Swaraj, who has been on a whirlwind travel schedule—this is her third trip abroad in the past one month—met newly sworn in President U Win Myint. He was sworn in March, after the earlier President Htin Kyaw resigned from his duty citing health reasons.
“During the bilateral meetings, boundary and border related issues, peace and security matters, developments in the Rakhine State, including return of displaced persons, India’s development assistance to Myanmar, ongoing projects, and other issues of mutual interest were discussed,'' according to a press release issued by the ministry of external affairs.
The displacement of the Rohingyas might be a matter of concern for India especially as it has the potential of being a humanitarian crisis, a sort of Syrian refugee problem for these parts. But it is a touchy issue, too. “We have to walk the tight-rope skillfully, which we have done till now,'' says Vivek Katju, former ambassador to Myanmar. “Both are our good neighbours and we need to balance our ties.”
Hence, India has approached this hot potato in the best way possible, through the promise of help in a tangible form. The minister “noted'' that the various projects that India had signed focussed on socio-economic development and livelihood. The first such project was the construction of pre-fabricated housing in this troubled state—an MoU was signed last year by the former secretary S. Jaishankar to meet the needs of those coming back.
Instead of using the politically-loaded R word, India, instead, has reiterated its “readiness and commitment to helping..the issues of the Rakhine State,'' a press release issued by the ministry of external affairs stated. The minister, however, “underlined the need for safe and speedy sustainable return of displaced persons to Rakhine State,'' the press release said. In a way, refusing to use the Rohingya gives India the ability to tackle the issue taking on a confrontational stance.
Seven MoUs were also signed. They include an agreement on the land border crossing—that has been long pending—and an agreement to restore and preserve the pagodas that were damaged by the earthquake in Bagan. India will train foreign service officers and set up two industrial training centres.