July 12: Yangon: Myanmar’s military government on Sunday welcomed a research institute report urging international aid for the country’s impoverished border areas.

In an official statement, the junta said the report by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group “reflects the reality” in the border areas, where the government said it needs outside help with its efforts to stamp out drug production and trafficking.

Myanmar’s border areas are desperately poor, even though they are near some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and have most of the country’s natural resources.

The ICG report said Myanmar’s prospects for peace, prosperity and democracy are closely tied to the future of the border areas and their people, most of whom are ethnic minorities.

It said foreign aid to the areas complements diplomatic efforts to restore democracy in Myanmar.

The remote, mountainous areas along Myanmar’s borders with Thailand, Laos, China, India and Bangladesh have long suffered from war and neglect.

The United States and the European Union have imposed economic sanctions against Myanmar for its poor human rights record and its failure to release political prisoners including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest in the capital, Yangon.

The junta’s statement released Sunday said it was “unfortunate that the U.S. and E.U. continue to believe that by promoting poverty, instability and armed conflicts in Myanmar … (they) will bring a sustainable democracy and create a better life for the people of Myanmar.”

Myanmar has been military-ruled for more than four decades. The current regime took power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy movement, and refused to hand over power when Suu Kyi’s party won an election two years later.

The International Crisis Group describes itself as an independent, nonprofit organization that aims to prevent and resolve global conflicts.