New Delhi, (IANS) British Foreign Office Minister for South Asia Lord Malloch-Brown arrived here for a day’s visit Monday to discuss the situation in Myanmar and Nepal with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Lord Malloch-Brown said in a statement that he would discuss with India “the importance of keeping up pressure on the Burmese regime to begin a dialogue with the democratic opposition”.
Britain, along with the US and the European Union, has been pressing China and India to prevail upon the Myanmar military junta to end its crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that began in September.
The West has also called for tougher sanctions against the Myanmar regime, a demand Mukherjee turned down in New York earlier this month.
India has expressed concern over the Myanmar situation and asked the military to expedite the process of national reconciliation and political reform. Mukherjee had described the bloodshed in Myanmar as “unacceptable”.
The British minister will also discuss “how we can work with Nepal to create conditions necessary to hold credible elections”.
Bilateral ties, including economic relations, between India and Britain will also come up for discussions.
Describing Britain’s relationship with New Delhi as “one of our most important and strongest”, he said his country had been at the “forefront in recognising India’s prominent position on the world stage and supporting India’s aspirations for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council”.