Moscow's Nuclear Envoy Visits Burma

Russia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexey N. Borodavkin, who is also  the country's nuclear envoy to North Korea, led a delegation to Naypyidaw on Wednesday to meet Burmese counterparts.

According to Burma's state-run The New Light of Myanmar, Borodavkin met with Burma's Vice-President Tin Aung Myint Oo, Minister for Foreign Affairs Wunna Maung Lwin, house speaker Shwe Mann, and Minister for Science and Technology Aye Myint.

Observers said the talks are expected to focus on weapons deals between the two countries. The foreign mission from Moscow follows hot on the heels of an upgrade in the strategic partnership between China and Burma.

Aung Naing Oo, a political analyst based in Thailand, said relations are close between Burma and Russia. While Burma sends students to Russia to study, Russia sells weapons to Burma.

If the Burmese authorities' relationship with China and India breaks down, they can always turn to Russia, he said.

Like China, Russia remains a staunch ally of Burma at the United Nations, frequently vetoing Western attempts at the Security Council to impose resolutions on the Burmese government. It also has a track record of selling weapons, including MiG-29 fighter jets, and conducting officer training regarding nuclear and missile technology.

According to previous reports, Russia had plans to build a “nuclear studies” center in Burma,  which would include a 10-megawatt, light water-moderated nuclear reactor, but later the plan was canceled.

Beijing and Naypyidaw have enjoyed a marked upgrade in their strategic partnership since Burma's new president, Thein Sein, visited China in May. Other nations, including the US, India, the EU and now Russia have been quick to mobilize delegations to the southeast Asian country, which is recognized as rich in natural resources yet boasts one of the poorest economies in the world.

Thakhin Chan Tun, a former diplomat who previously served as Burma’s ambassador to North Korea, and the People’s Republic of China, said that the recent diplomatic missions from Russia and India helps to balanced the outside influences on Burma.

“Burma has to rely on Russia, China and India, because the European Union is leading a boycott,” he said. “India doesn't want Burma to side with China. They want to do what they can in terms of trade and commerce.”

In recent years Russian companies have been involved in Burma's mining sector.

A Russian-trained Burmese army defector and missiles expert, Maj Sai Thein Win, said that Russian companies were exploring for thorium in northern Burma. Thorium is a naturally occurring radioactive chemical element which can be used for nuclear power plants, and is highly sought for its safety benefits.

“Russia especially wants thorium from Burma,” he said. “However, China has been smuggling it out in the metal-rich sand and silt from the U Ru Hka stream in Kachin State since 2006.

He said the Burmese government only recently became aware that Chinese companies were secretly smuggling the riverine sand and extracting thorium from it.

Meanwhile, Russian company Dalmorneftegeophysica, or DMNG, which provides an extensive range of geophysical services for the petroleum industry worldwide, including surveys planning, data acquisition, processing, interpretation and hydrocarbon resource evaluation, opened an office in Rangoon on June 18, according to The Myanmar Times.

DMNG has 10 years experience working in Burma on oil and gas projects, and its exploration contract with Thai state company PTTEP expired in January, said the Rangoon journal.