Three-pronged diplomacy involving Myanmar, China and SKorea defuses tensions over Bay
November 10, 2008
An imminent confrontation between Bangladesh and Myanmar over controversial oil and gas exploration in the Bay of Bengal could be averted following a three-pronged diplomatic maneuvering approaching China and South Korea.
Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain, who returned home after a troubleshooting mission to Yangon, told a crowded media conference on Sunday evening that a buildup of tensions over Myanmar’s controversial oil and gas exploration in the contested waters in the Bay of Bengal was apparently defused on Sunday. He said that, before his departure for Myanmar, he had meetings with the Ambassadors of China and South Korea in Dhaka and informed them of Bangladesh’s position on the disputed waters as well as stance on a peaceful solution “instead of any confrontation or war”.
He informed the Chinese envoy that Bangladesh wants peaceful solution while requested the Korean one to remove Daewoo company’s exploration vessel. The Korean Ambassador had told him that Daewoo started dismantling their equipment from the disputed waters. Touhid, however, told a correspondent that Bangladesh did not seek engagement or mediation into the matter of bilateral dispute.
On his Myanmar mission Touhid said he made three proposals during his meeting with Myanmar Deputy Ministers Maung Moyint and Kyaw Thu for resolving the dispute peacefully.
The proposals include removal of the drilling rig as the Korean company’s exploration vessels crossed the 1974 maritime boundary claimed by Bangladesh and withdrawal of naval ships by the two countries from the site. Touhid admitted that the Myanmar side did not agree to remove the rig during the talks as Maung Moyit said he needed discussion with his higher authority.
He said the Myanmar side also claimed that they had conducted the exploration on the eastern side of so-called ‘friendship line’ which does not exist. Touhid said the Korean vessels removed the oil- exploration rig from the disputed waters by 12 noon today, although UNB reports from the frontier districts said tensions were brewing along the land border following troop buildups on both sides.
When his attention was drawn to Myanmar authorities’ claim that they removed the rig after completion of the exploration and they entered the area in September, Touhid said he is not a technical expert, but “it sounds unusual”.
He observed that it would have required at least three months for completing the exploration deep in the sea. He said support ships from Myanmar might have been there in September but the rig was not installed in September as claimed by Myanmar.
Source: The Bangladesh Today
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