Стр. 24 - V

Электронное приложение к журналу «Международная жизнь»
Author : G. Ivashentsov
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, member of the Russian International Affairs Council
(RIAC)
DRAMATIC CHANGES are underway in Myanmar (formerly
known as Burma). Civil administration has replaced the military
regime which ruled the country since 1962.
Myanmar is an important country in both regional and interna-
tional terms, being the biggest continental state in Southeast Asia
with a population of 60 million, which has a rather high literacy
rate (over 90%). The country is rich in natural resources, and it is
located at the intersection of geopolitical routes connecting South
Asia and Eastern Asia. In the first years of its independence,
Burma/Myanmar played an active role in international affairs.
MYANMAR'S SELF-ISOLATION and the Western sanctions
caused an essential damage to its economy. Upon joining ASEAN
in 1997. Myanmar's military leaders realized that their country was seriously lagging behind their
neighbors, such as Thailand and Malaysia.
A political and economic blockade on the part of the West was inevitably drawing Myanmar
ever more close to China, and local nationalist forces continuously expressed their dissatisfaction
with their country's subordinate position in this bilateral union. Bridging differences between
Myanmar and the West to balance China's influence and follow the middle course in foreign re-
lations was possible only upon launching a dialogue with the civil opposition.
None of the external forces - neither China, nor ASEAN partners, nor the West - want Myanmar
to become another trouble spot on the globe.
Myanmar's generals have preserved a powerful leverage system not only in the political but also
in the economic arena. Thus, the ministry of defense controls two major economic structures -
the Union of Myanmara Economic Holdings Ltd (UMEH) and Myanmara Economic Corpo-
ration (MEC), set up as successors to a number of state-owned enterprises.
THE PROBLEM of securing the country's unity has been facing Myanmar from the moment
it was proclaimed a sovereign state. Myanmar is a multiethnic state with some 70% of its popu-
lation being the Burman (self-appellation - Barnár), and the remaining 30% belonging to other
indigenous ethnic groups. Seven national regions, where the non-Burman ethnic groups reside,
account for over a half of the country's territory, and have significant mineral deposits. Through-
out the entire period of Myanmar's independence, the above regions have been an arena of sep-
aratist movements and civil unrest.
ANOTHER BURNING ISSUE in Myanmar is the Muslim question. Myanmar is a Buddhist
country. At the same time, it is also home to Muslims, mainly descendants of migrants from
India and Bangladesh, who make up, according to official figures, around 4%, and by informal
Perestroika in Myanmar: Reasons, Challenges and Prospects