Friday, August 26 2005 14:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Port Blair: Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Arun Prakash yesterday (August 25, 2005) said that there was a need to strengthen relations with Myanmar and to build mutual confidence.

"The actions of nations are guided by their own vital interests and it is not for us to say whom Myanmar should choose as her friends and allies. However, it would cause us considerable concern if any outside power were to find its way into the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea through Myanmar, since this is an area of vital interest to us," Adm Prakash said delivering the keynote address at a seminar 'Andaman-Nicobar Islands-Vision 2025' here.

He said that it was against this background that there was a need to strengthen relations with Myanmar and to build mutual confidence.

"The Myanmarese have given clear indications that there has been some rethinking in the country and that they would welcome a closer defence relationship with India," he said.

"Therefore, while the Ministry of External Affairs works out its plan of action, the Armed Forces can certainly assist by accelerating the pace of defence co-operation. The Navy has already taken up a number of proposals, and we are confident that things are moving on the right lines," he said, adding, "As it happens, the ANC is right up in front and should form the spearhead of our friendly overtures to Myanmar."

He said that relations with Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia had blossomed over the past few years with the signing of a bilateral trade agreement and initiatives like BIMSTEC.

"In July this year, a Nay-Navy MoU was signed for coordinated patrols along the maritime boundary in the Andamans," he added.