US to lift sanctions against Myanmar, praises India's 'counsel'

[KS]

US to lift sanctions against Myanmar, praises India's 'counsel' - World - DNA

Reaching out to Myanmar which is taking strides towards democracy, the US today said it was planning a series of moves including lifting of sanctions in response to "courageous" steps taken by it and appreciated India for its advocacy of dialogue with regard to the country.

Kurt Campbell, the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, said the US has invited the Myanmar foreign minister for a visit.

"We believe the government has taken bold and necessary steps. We support those steps and want them to continue," Campbell told reporters here after the fifth India-US Dialogue on Asia Pacific region.

"The United States believes that it must recognise the courageous efforts that have been taken to date and has made it clear that we will take these economic steps. We will support the establishment of a UNDP office inside the country," Campbell said.

Calling the events in Myanmar a "once in a generation chance," Campbell said that his country was also planning to lift travel restrictions.

"We are also going to lift travel restrictions and we have invited the foreign minister to visit the United states," he said. Another step that the US was planning was the opening up of a USAID mission, Campbell said.

The US had expressed desire to reach out to Myanmar after Aung San Suu Kyi was elected to the nation's parliament with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announcing that the US would begin the process of lifting financial sanctions.

Speaking here, Campbell appreciated the role that India's advice had played in shaping the US attitude towards Myanmar.

"Frankly, I must say, we have received very good advice and counsel from India over the course of last couple of years. An encouragement about engagement, and we think that advice has been good advice in terms of how we should approach the opportunities that we are facing today," he said.

:thumb::thumb:

One more country off the commie grid.

Hope the Myanmar India gas pipeline soon goes through.

 

[Yusuf]

US to lift sanctions against Myanmar, praises India's 'counsel' - World - DNA



:thumb::thumb:

One more country off the commie grid.

Hope the Myanmar India gas pipeline soon goes through.

Ain't over till the fat lady sings. Chinis will not give up easily and the US is patient only with Pak and not with anyone else. Slight provocation from Myanmar Junta and it could all go back to square one.

 

[agentperry]

more imp than gas pipeline is the inland waterway to connect seven sisters

 

[KS]

more imp than gas pipeline is the inland waterway to connect seven sisters

That is what we have the bangis for...

 

[The Messiah]

what resources does burma have in abundance ?

 

[LETHALFORCE]

what resources does burma have in abundance ?

Geography perfect location for USA to launch an attack from the South
against China and in a naval regard too.

 

[KS]

Geography perfect location for USA to launch an attack from the South and in
a naval regard too.

Gas - lots and lots and lots of it.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Gas - lots and lots and lots of it.

The obvious reason USA is keeping China out of Central Asia and
now Southeast Asia.

 

[SADAKHUSH]

what resources does burma have in abundance ?

Forestry products, Natural gas and possibility of Hydro Power. China was forced out of the proposed hydro power project due to the opposition by indigenous people.

 

[SADAKHUSH]

Geography perfect location for USA to launch an attack from the South
against China and in a naval regard too.

Do you think India can negotiate a lease for IAF base for herself and as well training for Myanmar Air Force pilots. Myanmar is a crucial link for IAF on way to Andaman Nicobar as well. To send a chill through Chinese spine this will be best move for India, if it succeeds.

 

[The Messiah]

Do you think India can negotiate a lease for IAF base for herself and as well training for Myanmar Air Force pilots. Myanmar is a crucial link for IAF on way to Andaman Nicobar as well. To send a chill through Chinese spine this will be best move for India, if it succeeds.

Now that would be music to my ears.

 

[agentperry]

India do have military presence in myanmar but in very secretive manner and also India and burmese forces had launched many co-ordinated strikes against north-east insurgents including ulfa based in myanmar.
the insurgent groups in myanmar which are against myanmar regime are supported by china as per bbc findings so this is yet another reason why myanmar ruling class is still looking towards India.

many of you might recall that any supply of arms and ammo to myanmar by India is criticized all over the world specially by the EU, so its need of the hour to get US support for legitimizing arms trade with myanmar and bringing myanmar to global map of good boys.
this way myanmar wont look at china for its arms supplies thus reducing visible dominance of china over myanmar and increasing influence of US and India in myanmar

 

[Adux]

Where are the US haters now? m

We need the US as much as they need us. If Pakistan needed China against India, If China needed help with Soviet Union, make no doubt we need help with China. China will be squeezed out. We will be seeing a more pro active and strong involvement of Indian military in our foreign affairs.

 

[Virendra]

India do have military presence in myanmar but in very secretive manner and also India and burmese forces had launched many co-ordinated strikes against north-east insurgents including ulfa based in myanmar.

Indian armed forces have permission to enter Myanmar territory if trailing any rebels/terrorists. This permission has come in the recent months.

 

[ejazr]

About time, the Maynmar normalisation is long overdue. US should also listen to Indian counsel on Iran as well as it did on Myanmar because it will be beneficial for the US in the long term as well.

Moving ahead, the next step India should take is try to normalise relations with North Korea. Its a sensitive issue but atleast India should be on talking terms with the North Koreans if and when needed.

 

[thakur_ritesh]

Take India's advice on Pakistan and Iran as well, it will pay off well in times to come.

 

[SADAKHUSH]

About time, the Maynmar normalisation is long overdue. US should also listen to Indian counsel on Iran as well as it did on Myanmar because it will be beneficial for the US in the long term as well.

Moving ahead, the next step India should take is try to normalise relations with North Korea. Its a sensitive issue but atleast India should be on talking terms with the North Koreans if and when needed.

There has been a swift change in Myanmar's regime over the last year. Just after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton proposed visit was announced, I had come to conclusion that India has played the role in bringing Myanmar into the community of the nation which has been confirmed by USA now.

As you have suggested that USA should take advise from India on Iran as well. I am of the opinion that behind the door talks are going on and will come to light when a compromise between two has been agreed to which will be to let Iran develop the nuclear technology for electricity and allow monitoring as well by UN. The only opposition will be from Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia. Let us see how it unfolds.

What if USA and Israel do want Iran to have nuclear weapons in order to keep KSA on her toes and this strategy will force GCC nations to seek USA protection and thus permanent USA Naval and Army bases for long term in the region to keep check on China and Russia as well.

 

[amoy]

Below is about to commence supplying oil/gas in April 2013

Myanmar's Neighbors Advance Pipeline Project - WSJ.com

When completed, the pipeline will help unlock large untapped deposits of natural gas off Myanmar's coast and carry it hundreds of miles to southern China, expanding Myanmar's role as one of Asia's important energy exporters and enhancing its influence over other countries that rely on its supplies.


As a new multi-billion-dollar pipeline to China gets under way, the quiet mountain town of Hsipaw may never be the same again.

The project also is expected to include a port that can take deliveries of oil from the Middle East and Africa before transferring them to China. That will give China a new route for oil that bypasses the congested Strait of Malacca near Singapore, which handles a large portion of China's imported crude today.

All this should improve China's energy security while generating about $1 billion or more in annual revenue for Myanmar's government over 30 years, according to estimates by advocacy groups tracking the project, including the Shwe Gas Movement, based in Thailand. It is an annual payday equivalent to roughly a third of the country's existing foreign-exchange reserves.

The project is an important part of China's wider strategy to diversify energy sources and reduce its reliance on supplies that could be blocked easily by foreign powers or pirates.

Chinese media reported this year that full-scale construction of the Myanmar pipeline would begin in September, but an official at a pipeline division of CNPC said work had been delayed by ethnic tensions along the pipeline route. An official at Daewoo said work on the gas portion should begin by year's end.

 

[ejazr]

There has been a swift change in Myanmar's regime over the last year. Just after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton proposed visit was announced, I had come to conclusion that India has played the role in bringing Myanmar into the community of the nation which has been confirmed by USA now.

As you have suggested that USA should take advise from India on Iran as well. I am of the opinion that behind the door talks are going on and will come to light when a compromise between two has been agreed to which will be to let Iran develop the nuclear technology for electricity and allow monitoring as well by UN. The only opposition will be from Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia. Let us see how it unfolds.

What if USA and Israel do want Iran to have nuclear weapons in order to keep KSA on her toes and this strategy will force GCC nations to seek USA protection and thus permanent USA Naval and Army bases for long term in the region to keep check on China and Russia as well.

Well civil nuclear use is allowed for all NPT signatories. The GCC countries like KSA and UAE themselves have plans to build 20-30 nuclear power plants in the next 10 years among them and have singed MoUs with the US, South Korea, Russia, France and Japan among others. Even India would be interested in taking a part of the action had it not been the issue with India not being part of the NSG, Wassner group and other bodies.

And I don't think the US or Israel would be ok with Iran have nukes either. US was not happy with even India and Pakistan having nukes.

GCC and Israel both are probably the most keen to have Iran contained and constrained while the US will go along with this. Not because its in US interests because the US political system is subject to their powerful lobbies.

And I hoped that India DOES play a role behind the scenes in the Gulf region. But from the recent events, it looks like Obama has been relying on Turkey to communicate with Iran than on India.
http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/...-via-turkey-accept-civil-nuclear-program.html