[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

SCMP-EU accused of reneging on talk



Subject: SCMP-EU accused of reneging on talks offer

Saturday  February 20  1999
Burma

EU accused of reneging on talks offer

REUTERS in Singapore and Bangkok
The European Union had reneged on a deal that would allow Burma to attend a
meeting between EU and Asean members, Foreign Minister Win Aung said
yesterday.

Mr Win Aung said he had agreed to an EU proposal to talk about human rights
on the sidelines of the Berlin meeting next month in return for the
Europeans allowing his participation.

"They asked me whether I was willing to talk with the EU on the sidelines of
the meeting," Mr Win Aung said. "I said, 'Why not? I agree to that. I would
like to talk to you'.

"But nearer the day we have found many conditions coming out of the EU.
First they said, 'If you are willing to meet, there will not be a problem',
then they changed their mind."

The EU has barred Burma's senior officials from attending the meeting
because of the military-ruled state's human rights record.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations says all its foreign ministers
must be allowed to attend the talks, which could bring much-needed financial
aid.

On Thursday, Indonesia threatened to call off the ministerial meeting with
the grouping's oldest dialogue partner because of the EU's refusal to allow
Burma's participation.

The human rights issue, a sticking point since Burma was admitted to Asean
18 months ago, has already led to the cancellation of a junior level
EU-Asean meeting in Bangkok last month.

An EU diplomat in Bangkok said he thought it would take a diplomatic miracle
to save the Berlin meeting.

He said he believed most EU member states would be willing to accept Burma's
participation at a vice-ministerial level, provided Rangoon agreed to
discuss human rights.

"Frankly, though, I am not optimistic about the representation issue," he
said. "Asean has to choose between its relationship with Burma and its
dialogue with the EU."

Mr Win Aung said Asean would not leave him out.

"The rest will not go without us, without me. Do you think they will go
there without me participating in that meeting? I don't think so.

"If the EU side is agreeable for the participation of every Asean country,
then there will not be any problem," Mr Win Aung said. "I don't want to say

the ball is in their court, but we need to reach some understanding."

He said Burma would not succumb to external pressure for change and was
working on its problems at its own pace.

"We have our own agenda to build our nation. If there is pressure this will
just hamper us. If there is no pressure, we will move forward very quickly."

Human rights advocates criticised Thailand yesterday for accepting a visit
by Mr Win Aung.

Speakers at a seminar in Bangkok organised by the Asian Forum for Human
Rights and Development accused Thailand of being more interested in
extracting economic gain from Burma than making a stand on human rights.