Dhaka, Yangon agree to continue maritime talks

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FE Report
Dhaka and Yangon agreed Monday on continuation of bilateral talks to settle the dispute over the maritime boundary demarcation and oil and gas explorations in offshore blocks in the Bay of Bengal, foreign ministry officials said.
Foreign adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury welcomed the understanding reached between the two neighbouring countries and hoped that the dispute over the maritime boundary demarcation would be resolved peacefully through negotiations.
"While we believe in peace, we will do all that is necessary to protect our territory," said the foreign adviser while talking to newsmen Monday.
Foreign ministry additional secretary MAK Mahmood, leader of Bangladesh team in the talks, termed the outcome of the two-day technical level meeting 'successful' as both the countries have agreed to continue discussions until the settlement of the dispute.
"An 'incremental' progress was achieved during the meeting," he added.
The next round of negotiations will take place in Myanmar in January 2009, Mr Mahmood told the journalists after the end of the meeting at the foreign ministry.
The Myanmar delegation, led by deputy minister Maung Moyint, however, refused to talk with the journalists on the issue.
Mentioning issues at the meeting the additional foreign secretary said both Dhaka and Yangon have placed two separate proposals and argued from their own point of views to settle the dispute.
"Myanmar was favouring the principle of 'equidistance' for the demarcation of maritime boundaries, but we emphasised the basis of 'equity' principle," he said.
"Both are technically 'complex' and we hope that the 'equity' principle will ensure equitable and legitimate maritime boundary for both the countries."