E.U.'s Policy Toward Burma / German

[antipolitik.wolf@xxxxxxxxxxx]

EUROPEAN UNION
THE COUNCIL  COMMON POSITION
of  28 - 10 - 1997
I would like to add a few notes/thoughts on this document in regard to the 
position of the German Government (GG). From my point of view the GG is not 
intending to harm SPDC or its own economic involvement in Burma.  Right now the 
German Government is increasing its involvement in the region and without any 
doubt will hamper any attempt inside the EU to actively create a climate for 
change in Burma.  To my own knowledge there is no German official attending any 
meetings of NGOs or is using the excisting influence in Thailand or Burma to 
stop the violations of human rights.  Without an active public integration of 
Germany as a country in the discourse about Burma and human rights the EU policy 
will stay what it is : Paper tiger without teeth ...  It would be interesting to 
ask the representative of the EU in Thailand on this subject ...
The following quotations are basic background information on what the GG is 
willing to do or not.  In principle it is true that any sanction/discussion of 
inside the European Union will fail because there is the strong opposition of 
German companies.  
According to the german Administrative Law we are unable to get information on 
German comapnies and their investment inside Myanmar/Burma.  In case anybody has 
reliable information on that subject please contact
antipolitik.wolf@xxxxxxxxxxx
On October 28, 1997, the Foreign Minister made the following announcement in 
parliament:
(Quote own translation)
Declaration Kinkel (German Foreign Minister) in regard to the violent measures 
of the ruling junta of Myanmar against ASSK

 .... In July this year Myanmar became a member of ASEAN.  This decision was 
within the ASAEN member group and the EU, which is in a close working 
relationship with ASEAN, not undisputed.  Rightly there was cause for concern, 
that the political leadership in Myanmar wanted to misuse the membership in 
order to become internationally accepted.  The German Government, (!) who 
appreciates the membership postively (!), takes the view, that the international 
community of states  has to use the membership of Rangoon to create an 
enviroment which leads towards an improvement of the situation of human rights, 
towards an end of repression of the opposition and the ethnic minorities ....

In December 1996 the German Foreign Minister answered to a parlamentarian 
question of the German Green Party in regard to human rights and the 'Visit 
Myanmar' campaign ...

question 1:  ... According to the knowledge of the German Government who else 
apart from Condor and Neckermann is offering tourist tours to Burma?

Answer1: The German Government (GG) has no knowledge about this subject

q2:  ... Is there a recommadation of the German tourist industry not to visit 
Burma as long as violations of human rights are still going on?

a2: The GG has not knowledge about such a recommadation ...

a3: According to the GG it is absolutly up to the industry to offer such tours 

a4: see a3

a5: see a3

q 11:  Is the GG considering economic sanctions  against the ruling SLORC in 
Burma in order to end the violation of human rights in the country?

a11:  The GG does not consider economic sanctions as a constructive tool to 
influence the policy of SLORC  towards democracy or improvementt of human 
rights. Myanmar is one of the pooreest countries in the world.  Economic 
sanctions would only hurt the poorer sections of the population without 
influencing the ruling Government.

q12:  Is the GG considering to take similar action like the USA or the EU ?

a12:  Quote of the statement of the EUC of 28/10/1996/compare statement 
28/10/1997 without naming the concern about the abuses of human rights

q13:  Is the GG considering to use its influence inside the EU to pressure the 
EUC for economic sanctions in order to support the ASSK?

a13:  see a12

q14:  Will the GG support the depreviation of the Generalised Sytem of 
Preference (GSP) inside the EU in order to improve the situation of human rights 
in Burma?

a14:  ...  Right now the European Commision is investigating whether Myanmar is 
actually infringing the above quoted decree 3281/94.  As soon as the Commision 
will publish its findings the GG will examine the findings carefully and might 
consider a possible deprevation.

q15:  To the knowledge of the GG which German companies maintain business 
ralations to Myanmar?

a15:  The GG has no knowledge about the involvemnt of German comapnies and their 
projects.  As far as it has knowledge it is unable to provide any information 
according to § 30 administrative law.

q16:  Which projects are undertaken by German companies in Burma ?

a16:  see a15

q17:  Is the GG supporting the notion of economic sanctions towards these 
comapnies ?

a17:  According to the oppinion of the GG it is basically the decision of the 
comapnies in question whether they invest in the country or not.

q23:  What is the relationship between the GG and the NCGUB?

a23:  The Federal Republic of Germany maintains diplomatic realtions with the 
Union of Myanmar




____________________________________________________________________________
Die Macht des Geistes und die Macht des Staaates 
sind miteinader unvereinbar.
Gyoergy Konrad 'Antipolitk' (1985/203)