Sushma Swaraj to visit Myanmar, focus on Rohingyas

New Delhi, May 03: The Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will visit Myanmar on 10-11 May during which she will impress upon the Myanmar leadership the urgent need for taking steps for the rehabilitation of Rohingya refugees.

Announcing her visit at a media briefing here on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the two countries would discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations as well as other issues of mutual interest during the talks. Several key agreements were expected to be signed during the visit.

Swaraj is expected to reiterate to the Myanmar leadership India’s position that normalcy should be restored in the Rakhine State, which was affected by large-scale communal violence last year, leading to thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has since then been appealing to India to use its good offices with Myanmar so that the displaced Rohingyas could return to their homes in Myanmar.

India favored a long-term strategy for socio-economic development of the Rakhine State, the spokesperson said, adding that New Delhi had also welcomed the agreement between Myanmar and Bangladesh on the rehabilitation of displaced people.