Myanmar's IORA membership bid fails amid BD's opposition

November 08, 2019 00:00:00

FE Report

Myanmar's application for the membership of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) has been rejected due to the opposition of Bangladesh to the move.

The issue was raised in the 21st meeting of the Council of Senior Officials' (CSO) Meeting held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on November 05-06.

This year Myanmar again applied for the membership of IORA.

Though some of Southeast Asian countries supported the application of Myanmar, Bangladesh opposed the Membership Application at the CSO Meeting arguing Myanmar's non-cooperation and lack of commitment in repatriation of the Rohingya refugees, said a foreign office spokesperson on Thursday.

Since as per Article 2(C) under the Fundamental Principles of the IORA Charter, decisions on all matters and issues, at all levels will be taken on the basis of consensus, Myanmar's Membership Application has been declined and deferred due to opposition from Bangladesh.

The CSO Meeting was followed by the 19th Council of Ministers' Meeting (COMM) which was held at the same venue on Thursday.

Delegations from 22 Member States of IORA and 09 Dialogue Partners participated in the CSO Meeting.

A delegation from Bangladesh Foreign Ministry participated in the CSO Meeting.

During the CSO Meeting, Vice Chairmanship for the tenure of October 19-October 2021 was officially handed over to Bangladesh. Subsequently, Bangladesh will assume the charge of the Chair from October 01, 2021 for two years.

United Arab Emirates officially assumed the charge of Chair for the tenure of October 19-October 2021. Moreover, in the IORA 21st Meeting of CSO, many important issues were discussed, and some important decisions were taken.

Based on consensus, Italy was accepted as a Dialogue Partner at the CSO.

Bangladesh also presented the report on the Third IORA Blue Economy Ministerial Conference which took place in Dhaka on September 4-5 , 2019.

Bangladesh thanked all the Member States and Dialogue Partners for wholeheartedly participating in the Conference.

"The CSO thanked Bangladesh for successful arrangement of the Conference on Blue Economy and reiterated their commitment to hold Dhaka Declaration at the centre of the Blue Economy development in the Indian Ocean region," the spokesman said.