JOJJH-

. T EMENT UY THE FOREIGN MINISTERS

' S'CA.
OF BANGLA DESH A N D M Y A NHAR ISSUED A T THE CONCLUSION
OF TH E OFFICIAL VIS IT OF THE MYAHMAR FOREIGN MINISTER
TO DANC.LADE.S l l FROM 2 3 - 2 0 APRIL . 1 9 9 2 .

A t tlie invitalion of I l o Excellency Mr . '^ A .S .M. Mostafizur Rahman .

i
Minister f o r Foreign A f f a i r s of tlie Government o f the People 's RepUblit
o f Bangladesh, His Excellency U Ohn Gyaw , Minister for Foreign A f f a'in
of the Union of Myanmar paid an o f f i c i a l visit to Bangladesh from 2 3 -2 1
April 1992 a t the head o f a 14 -member delegation which included thi
Minister for Informat ion o f the Union o f Myanroar His Excellency Brig,
Genera l Myo Thant a s A l t e r n a t e Leader .

2. During b in s ta y tlie Myanmar Foreign Minist er U Ohn Gyaw accompaniec

by nr'ig. General Myo Tlianfc , Minister for Information called on Hit
Excellency Mr . Abdur Rahman niswas, President of the People 's Republh
o f Bangladesh. The Myanmar Foreign Minister accompanied by Myanma}
Information Minister called on Her Excellency Begum Khaleda Zia , Prinu
Minister o f Bangladesh . H .E . Urig. General Myo Thant , Minister fol
Informa t ion called on Barrister Nazmul Huda , Minister for Information.
The Minister o f S t a t e for Relief and Rehabilitation o f Bangladesh Mr -
Lutfur Rahman Ktian also called on His Excellency U Ohn Gyaw . Mr.
Dnrioush Bayondor, chief o f Mission o f UHHCR in Dhaka called on it .E. I
Ohn Gyaw , Minister f o r Foreign Minister o f the Union o f Myanmar .

3. Desides extensive t e t e-a-fcete the t w o Foreign Ministers held fcwi

rounds o f e x t e n s i v e talks, assisted by their respective delegat ions.
lis t s of wliicli are annexed.

4. A t t he opening session o f the o f f i c i al talks, His Excellency , th<

Foreign Minister o f Bangladesh welcomed \\ i s counterpart and expressei
the liope that his long a w a i t e d visit would help in resolving th
 o u t s t a n d i n g i s s u es p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e p r o blem o f M y n n m a r r e f u g e es ncn
s h e l t e r e d i n Ba n g l a d e s h. He b r i e f l y o u t l i n e d t h e p r e s e nt s i t u a t i o n o:
t h e M y a n m n r r e f u g e e s now i n Ba n g l a d e s h a n d e m p h a s i z e d on f o u r basic
Clements i :

n) t h e exodu s o f p e o p l e f r o m M y a n m a r t o Ba n g l a d e s h
to s t o p immediat e l y ;

b) r e pa t r i a t io n o f t h e r e f u g e e s t o t h e i r o r i g i n a l
place o f residence i n honour , s a f e t y and
dig n i t y ;

c) undertaking of certain confidence building

m e n su r o s s u c h a s w i t h d r a w a l/ c u t b a c k o f t r o o p s
f r o m b o r d e r a r e a s/ f o r w a r d posi t i o n ; a n d

d) l a s t i n g s o l ut i o n o f t h e p r o b l e m i n t h e s e n s e
t h a t t h e r e sh o u l d be n o r e c u r r e n c e o f s u c h o r
s i m i l a r p r o b l e ms i n f u t u r e .

T h e F o re i g n M i n i s t e r p r o p o s e d t h e i n v o l v e m e n t o f UNHCR t o e n s u n
t h e a b o v e . H e m e n t i o n e d t h a t Ba n g l a d e s h h a d a l l a l o n g h a d a p e a c e f ul
b o r d e r w i t h M y a n m a r e x c e pt on t w o o c c a s i o ns 1978-7 9 a n d 1991-9 2 w h e )
t h e r e were i n f l u x e s o f r e f u g e e s f r o m Myanmar i n t o Bangladesh*

T h e F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r r e i t e r a t e d t l i a t Ba n g l a d e s h w a s c o m m i t t e d t (
m a i n t a i n t h e t r a d i t i o n a l f r i e n d l y a n d good n e i g h b o u r l y r e l at ions w i t i
M y a n m a r a n d w a s t i o p e f u ] t h a t t h r o u g h a m i c a b l e n e g o t i a t i o n s a p e a c e f ul
a n d l a s t i n g s o l u t i o n o f t h e p r o b l e m w i l l be a c h i e v e d. T h e Foreigi
M i n i s t e r c a t e g o r i c a l l y m e n t i o n e d t h a t Ba n g l a d e s h h a d n o i n t e nt i o n t i
i n t e r f e r e i n t h e , i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f Myanmar . lie added th a t Dangladesi
and Myanmar were permanent n e i g h b o u r s which was of o v e r r i d i nc
consideration a n d i t w a s i n t h e i n t e re s t o f b o t h t h e count r i e s t o remov i
t h e e x i s t i n g i r r i t a n t s t h r o u g h a m i c a b l e n e g o t i a t i o n s. T h e F o r e i g i
M i / l i s te r o f B a n g ] n d c n h i- t i o n i n t r ed u c r- d t h e m o m b o r s o f h i s d e l e g a t i o n a n t
h a n d ed o v e r a d r a f t ( K J r u o m o n t t u I U H c o u n te r p a r t f o r e x a m i n a t i o n. H i
t h e n i n v i t ed M y a n m n r c o u n te r p a r t t o p u t f o r w a r d t h e i r proposa ls .
5. In reply , tlie leader of fclie Myiuimar Delegation expressed hit
gratitude for tlie war m welcome accorded to him and his delegation by th (
Bangladesh side and stated tliat he had brought along the goodwill of th(
Myanmar leaders and the propio to the leaders and the people o;
Bangladesh . Tlie size and com position of the Myanmar Delegation it
indicative of this positive attitude to amicably resolve the issue . Boti
sides were acquainted with eacli other and understood what was requirec
to be done . H e also confirmed that there exist positive elements on whal
both s i des need to undertake . In conclusion , he stated that Myanma)
looked beyond resolving the current issue and expressed his desire that
botli sides would cooperate more closely i n tlie future .

6. Tlie two Foreign Ministers decided to form a Working Grou}

consisting of senior mem bers of the delegations for detailed discussiol
on the question of safe and voluntary repatriation of Myanmar refugee?
presently sheltered in Bangladesh and rela ted issues , and to resolve khi
problem on a permanen t and lasting basis .

7. In tlie light of the abov e , botli sides exchanged views and agreed ai
follows :

i ) The two sides reiterated tlieir firm conviction

to resolve their problems amicably and
peacefully through bila teral negotiations on
tlic basis of m utual u nderstanding ,'
accommodotion , trust and goodwill and maintain
peace and tranquility on their borders .

i i ) The two sides agreed in full faith to abide by

tli e F i v e Principl es of Peaceful Co-existence .
iii ) The Government o f the Union o f Myanmar agreed
to take all necessary measures tha t would halt
the o u t f l o w o f Hyanmar residents to Bangladesh
and encourage those who had l e f t Myanmar to
re turn volunta r y and s a fe l y to their homes .

i v) The Government o f tlie Union o f Myanmar in a

s p i r i t o f coope r a t i o n a g r e e d t o a c c e pt a f t e r
s c r u t i n y a l l those people w h o t o o k shelter in
Hnngladcsh a nd whose presence had been recorded
t h r o u g h R e f uge e Reg isfcration C a r d s i s s u e d by
t h n G ov e r n me nt o f Dang ] a d o nh a t t h eir point o f
o n t- r y i n t o Bangl- ndo sh rur- i w h i c h infcer - a l i a
Ilfi t e d a v a i l a b l e e v i d e n c e o f the ir r e s i d e n c e in
Mynnmar . On t h e b a s i s o f tlie s c r u t i n y o f the
.l i st s p r o v i ded by t h e Government o f Bangladesh,
tlio G o v e r n m e n t o f t h o Un ion o f Myanmar agre ed
t o r p pn fcrinte in bntchea a l l persons infcer - a l i a!
c a r r ying M y a n m n r C i t iz ens hip I d e n t i t y Cd r d s /
f L- i t -. ic f n .il K o g i s t ra t i o n C.-i r d s ? tliose a b l e to p r e s e n t
n n '/ u t h c T d ["^ l)IH' ll{:.t3 is s u o d b y r e l e va nt Myanmar
nu t li o r i t. i n p .'UK '! ; nU thos e persons a ble t o furnis h
PV ) d o n e e o ft h ^ ir r e s i d o n c'e i n Myanma r , such a s
nU d r ec s e s or nny oLIi e r r c l e v n n t pa r t i c u l a r s. The
G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e- U n i o n Mynnmnr a g r e e d tha t there
w o u l- c ) be no r enfcr ic lion on number o f persons s o long
("i s t.li p y c o u l d os t n b l. j s l i bonn f ide e v i d e n c e o f t heir
re s i de nce i n Hynnnuir . They f u r t he r a s s u r e d that the
is t s p r o v i d e d by Hc-ingi a d e s h closely coincided w i t h
t.hor,o p o t- s ons v o i- i f i e d by t h e Myanmar a u t h o r i t i e s.

v) '1' lir- t w o s i d e s n g r p e d t ha t: t h e r e s i de n t s o f Hyanmar

i d i-' n t if i c d i n p n r n ( i v ) abov e w o u l d be r e c e i v e d a t
t he b o r d c i' s b y t h e a u t h o r!t ir' s o f tlie Government o f
t h e U n i on o f" M y c-inninr J n hut c he s f r o m the authorities
'.i f t t i r '. Guv c r innoii L o f Dip f p o p lo ' s R epublic o f
I? a n< J Iculr' r.h l)y n s ;)o c i f i c Hubun.1 A g r eeme n t on physical
 Governmen t of the People 's Republic of
Bangladesh on the Demarcation of the Land
Section of the Boundary North of the Naaf
River signed at Dhaka on 23 May 1979 . Pursuant
to A rticle III of the said agreem ent, Myanmar
side dra fted the text of the boundary treaty
which was transm itted to tlie Bangladesh side
on 10 June, 1991 . The two Governments hereby
agree flin t tlie Boundary Trea ty should be
signed at the earliest possible opportunity .-
8. Tlie meeting - ed
wns conduct' in a friendly and cordial atmosphen
reflecting the tradi l ionnl F riendship existing be tween Myanmar an(
Bangladesh . Both sides oxprnKr.nd tlieir appreciation on the positiv i
outcome of the discussion;;.

9. The leader of the Hyanmar Delegation expressed his dee)

appreciation for the warm hospitality extended to his Delegation by th(
Government of the People 'H .R epublic of Bangladesh during its stay i)
Dhaka . . .

A .S .M . Hostafizur Rahman ) ( bhn Gyaw )

Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign affairs
Leader of Bangladesh Delegation L eader of Myanmar Delegation

DHAKA , 28TH APRIL , 1992

 ix ) A f t e r completion o f ' the repatriation proces s
from Bangladesh o f the Myanmar residents, the
t w o ^ Government s agreed t o cooperate for the
prevent ion , o f illegal border crossings by
persons from either side by appropriat e
cont rols.

x ) The t w o G o v e r nme n t s a g r e e d t o t a k e a l l
necessci ry m e a s u r e s t o e n h a n c e s e c u r i t y a n d
t ra n q u i l l i t y i n t h e i r b o r d e r s i n f u l l
c or n p l i ;mco w i t h b l i e A g r e e m e n t o n Bo r d e r
.A i - r n r i '-j p.n i n n t .!-; a n d C o o p e r a t i o n ( Bo r de r G r o u n d
K u l o s ) s iy n o d b y t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s i n 1980. I n
t .h i ;; con t.n x t' U i f ? y a^ r p p d t o t a k e n e c e s s a r y
c o n f i d u n ; i? l i u i I ' l i i v j ni '"!n r; u r o K . T h e t w o s i d e s
fi g r oc d t o k c ' o p t/ ciJ i i L'i i: c o n ta c t s t h r o ug h f l a g
nu ' o L i tvJ '--. b r ' l w n p n t l v f i c c t o r coininnnders o f t t i e i r
t " c :',[) p < ;L 'i '.' o b "r ( l p r n c c u f i t y f o r c o s t o w a r d s t it is
r'i i ( ] ,

y, \ ) H o (_ l i ("i o v c ' r 'nii i i 'n l . :-; n q t 'r ' ^ i.] L l i n t t l i e y w ou l d

o p p o s e n n y f u r i n o r t:e i; t-" o r i a in , i n su r g e n c y o r
u r -i r r i o n f l l y r-H - L f ; m i (.~ h n s sm u g g l i n g , g u n r u n n i n g
o r d r u g t r ,'i r f .i.<; k i n g d i rec t e d a ga i n s t t h e i r
n " i ' J l i l '"i . i ":. T h ey .-v J r p p d (.l i n t . t ]i i? y w o u l d n o t
l i ;i r b c i u i-- u t - ; u i i ( i o r l. n ir/ t e r r u ri s t r, o r c r i m i n a l s
i n v o l v e d i n su c h d c t i v i t i os . T h e y a l so a g r e e d
ti n I Llio 'i. r r o G p c c b i V P ] "n'/ 0 11 f o r c i n g ag e n c i e s
w o u l d c l o r.p l y cooi ) Q i "n t.c tocj o t l i e i; t o p r e v e n t
f.i i c h n c (. r- .

x i i ) 'D H. ' i <i nd b u u n d o r y I torDi of t h e Haa f River

.S e c t o r o f U i o coiii ni o n b o u n d a r y h a s b n e n
n u c c '"1 ",:^ f " i i 1 1 y f l '-' ni ;i r c -;i t c d "j o i n t l y b y t h e t w o
G o '/ o f i i n ^ - i i t :-> i fi (.i c co r d a n c e w i t l i t h e A g r e e m e n t
'"(.. w e o n t l i r ? G c J v eT nin o n t o f t h e S o c i al ist
R e p u b l i c o f (-h o U n i o n o f M y a n m a r a n d t h e
 arrangem ents for repatriation of Myanmar residents to
be agreed upon at the technical level which would
include intcr-n l i a t.i m o schedules , tran sport and
logist i c ;irr -;i i i<Jf.'i(.:n t!
? , reception procedures ,
cominun i i-'.'tl" Ion ;;ysteins . Uoth sides agreed that the
process of repatriation should commence within two or
three w eeks at a mutually agreed date and be
completed w i t h i n s i x months from the date the first
batch is received .

v i ) Doth sides agreed that repatriation should be

sa fe and voluntary , tliat tlie Myanmar returnees should
be settled ,i n their own households and original
places of residence to enable them to carry on their
livelihood as members of Myanmar society . It was
agreed tliat tlie Government of Bangladesh would fully
associate the representatives of the UMHCR to assist
them ' in the^ process of safe and volun tary
repatriation . Tlie Government of tlie Union of Myanmar
agreed tha t the serv-icci; of tlie UNHCR could be drawn
upon as needed a t a n appropriate time .

v i i ) Doth sides recognize the role of UNHCR in various

stages of repatriation process , facilitating the
reduction of international concern in the context of
voluntary and safe return of tlie Myanmar residents*
Tlie Myanmar side also assured that on-ground work
programme will be drawn u p in full consideration of
tins aspect a f ter consultation with relevant
autliorities in Myanmar .

viii ) Tlie two Governments agreed to work for a

comprehensive and permanen t solution of the problem
so as to preven t its recurrence in the future .