Yangon pressed for equidistance method (243-degree line), which he said, is unacceptable to Bangladesh
Tuesday November 18 2008 08:56:41 AM BDT
The two day long Bangladesh and Myanmar maritime boundary talks ended yesterday inconclusively amid sharp disagreement on drawing the dividing line over the waters of the Bay of Bengal.(The New Nation )
However, the two sides decided to continue the talks and placed two proposals on the methodology of delimitation but disagreed to adopt either.
As such, they decided to continue the current negotiations that got off hot on the heels of a near-confrontation over gas exploration by Myanmar in the waters claimed by Bangladesh.
The next round of talks will be held in Myanmar in January. The date will be decided at a time convenient to both sides.
Bangladesh team leader Additional Foreign Secretary MAK Mahmood briefing newsmen said Dhaka proposed principle of equity (180-degree line) following the UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea).
But Yangon pressed for equidistance method (243-degree line), which he said, is unacceptable to Bangladesh, as it would turn into "block zone." Myanmar proposed to give a corridor to Bangladesh, but "we have rejected the proposal" he noted.
Mahmood said both the sides would discuss each other's proposal at the next meeting to find out a common formula out of it.
In reply to a question, Mahmood said he also requested the Myanmar side not to conduct survey or exploratory work within the disputed waters (East of 180-degree line) until an agreement is reached.
But, he said, Myanmar objected it and claimed that the area is close to their coastline.
The two sides signed agreed minutes at the end of their two-day meeting agreeing to carry on the technical-level negotiations.
Earlier, Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said, "This is a complex negotiation...This cannot be resolved today or tomorrow. We will continue our talks in the future to arrive at peaceful settlement."
He made the remarks to reporters after a meeting with Myanmar delegation leader and Deputy Foreign Minister Maung U Myint at the Foreign Ministry.
Iftekhar said the two sides explained their respective positions regarding the methodology of delimitation and tried to find out a common formula.
Asked about the outcome of the talks, Iftekhar said, "Outcome is continued talks."
The negotiations took off against the backdrop of a war-cry from both sides over the oil-exploration bid by Myanmar early this month. Myanmar stopped exploration in the wake of intense diplomatic efforts.
This was the third round of technical experts' negotiations on maritime boundary in last eight months. Earlier, the two neighbours held two technical-level talks in Dhaka and Bagan (Myanmar) in April and September this year on the matter.
The New Nation
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