First India-Myanmar Joint Military Exercise
Indian and Myanmar armies carried out a six-day joint military exercise at the Umroi Joint Training Node in north-eastern Indian state of Meghalaya from November 20 to 25. The drill, aimed to train Myanmar troops to be able to take part in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO), was the maiden joint military exercise between the two armies. A total of 15 officers from the Myanmar Army and 16 from the Indian Army participated in the six-day exercise titled India-Myanmar Bilateral Army Exercise (IMBAX).
India is a major contributor to the UN’s peace keeping operations, and have much varied experience in different peace-keeping operations, according to an Indian army official. The drill focused on training the Myanmar army participants on tactics, procedures, expertise and methodology required by the contingent of the member nations for serving in UNPKO.
Myanmar and Bangladesh Reach an Agreement on Return of Bengalis
Myanmar and Bangladesh signed an agreement on the repatriation of Bengalis who fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar. Kyaw Tint Swe, Union Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor, and Bangladeshi Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali signed the Arrangement on Return of Displaced Persons from Rakhine State at the Meeting Room, Ministry of the Office of the State Counsellor on November 23.
Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali took a visit to Myanmar from November 22 t0 23 at the invitation of Kyaw Tint Swe. The two ministers co-chaired the Ministerial Meeting to discuss the Arrangement on Return of Displaced Persons from Rakhine State on November 22. And the two sides signed the Arrangement on November 23.
The Arrangement was based on the Joint Statement signed by the foreign ministers of the two countries in 1992, and contained the general guiding principles and policy arrangements to systematically verify and receive the displaced persons from Rakhine State, according to a press release from the Ministry of the Office of the State Counsellor.
Two New Ministers for Htin Kyaw’s administration
Thaung Tun, a former ambassador to the Philippines, Belgium, Netherlands and the European Union, has been appointed as Minister for the office of the Union Government. Currently, he has been working as a National Security Advisor since January 2017.
Kyaw Tin has been appointed as Minister for International Cooperation. Currently, he is working as a Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Ministry.
UNICEF representative to Myanmar presents her credentials to State Counsellor
On November 24, June Kunugi, UNICEF representative to Myanmar, met and presented her credentials to State Counsellor and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs Aung San Suu Kyi.
During the meeting, they exchanged views on matters pertaining to Myanmar-UNICEF cooperation including its current and new 2018-2022 country programmes, as well as assistance to children in need for their health, education, social wellbeing and protection.
