Bangladesh, Myanmar maritime border talks end inconclusive

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/17/content_10372320.htm

www.chinaview.cn 2008-11-17 19:40:42 Print

DHAKA, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh and Myanmar have decided to continue maritime border talks as experts of the two countries ended their hectic negotiations on Monday inconclusive on critical issue of drawing their maritime boundary through the Bay of Bengal.

The technical experts of the two countries could not make any substantial progress in determining the methodology of the delimitation.

"This is a complex negotiation...This can not be resolved today or tomorrow. We will continue our talks in the future to arrive at peaceful settlement," Foreign Advisor of Bangladesh caretaker government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told reporters here on Monday.

He said the two sides explained their respective positions regarding the methodology of delimitation and tried to find out a common formula.



The two sides signed an agreed minute at the end of their two-day meeting to carry on the technical level negotiations.

Asked about the outcome of the talks, Iftekhar said, "Outcome is continued talks."

The Bangladeshi team was led by Additional Foreign Secretary MAK Mahmood and the Myanmar side led by Deputy Foreign Minister Maung U Myint.

Mahmood told reporters earlier that Dhaka placed logic of the principle of equity (180 degree line) in delimitating the sea border while Yangon stressed equidistance (243 degree line) principle, "which is not acceptable to us."

The sources participating in the talks said the Myanmar side was rigid on their arguments and no practical progress was made at the meeting.

The host Bangladesh requested the Myanmar side to restrict its survey and exploratory activities in the disputed waters to the East of 180 degree line until a final agreement between the two states on maritime delimitation is signed.

The negotiations took place hot on the heels of a near-confrontation over oil exploration by Myanmar in the disputed part of the Bay waters early this month.

The two neighbors held two technical-level talks in April and September this year on the subject.


Editor: Deng Shasha