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VOA-EUROPEAN UNION / BURMA



DATE=3/31/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247449
TITLE=EUROPEAN UNION / BURMA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GERALDINE CARROLL
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  THE EUROPEAN UNION SAYS IT HAS RESOLVED A TWO-YEAR 
DISPUTE WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS, OVER 
BURMA.  AS GERALDINE CARROLL REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, THE TWO SIDES 
HAVE REACHED A COMPROMISE ALLOWING BURMA TO BE PRESENT AT 
NEWLY-SCHEDULED TALKS IN MAY. 

TEXT:  THE E-U HAS PLEDGED CONTENTIOUS ISSUES -- INCLUDING 
BURMA'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD -- WILL NOT RUIN TIES WITH THE 
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS.  

TWO PREVIOUS MEETINGS BROKE DOWN AFTER SEVERAL E-U COUNTRIES -- 
WHICH ACCUSE BURMA OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES --  REFUSED TO ALLOW 
RANGOON TO PLAY A FULL ROLE AT THE JOINT COOPERATION COMMITTEE.  

THE E-U PREVIOUSLY INSISTED BURMA WAS NOT ENTITLED TO JOIN THE 
MEETING, BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN A SIGNATORY TO THE 1980 
COOPERATION PROTOCOL BETWEEN ASEAN AND THE E-U.  BURMA JOINED 
ASEAN, ALONG WITH LAOS, IN 1997. 

SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE E-U, HERMANN ERATH -- THE GERMAN 
AMBASSADOR TO THAILAND --  SAYS THE TWO BLOCS HAVE REACHED A 
COMPROMISE TO RESUME DIALOGUE.  HE SAYS THE COMPROMISE WILL ALLOW
BURMA, ALSO KNOWN AS MYANMAR,  TO PLAY WHAT THE E-U DESCRIBES AS 
A "PASSIVE ROLE" IN THE NEWLY-SCHEDULED TALKS,  STARTING ON  MAY 
26TH IN BANGKOK.     

MR. ERATH SAYS THE AGREEMENT --  WHICH ALLOWS THE BURMESE TO BE 
PRESENT BUT GIVES THEM NO VOICE --  PAVES THE WAY FOR PROGRESS. 

      // ERATH  ACTUALITY //

THERE IS AGREEMENT AMONG ALL E-U COUNTRIES THAT WE SHOULD NOT 
MAKE THE COOPERATION OF THE E-U AND ASEAN HOSTAGE OF THE MYANMAR 
PROBLEM.  

      // END ACTUALITY//  

MR. ERATH WILL NOT TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFICS OF THE COMPROMISE 
DEAL, BUT SAYS THE E-U DECIDED IN FAVOR OF AN AGREEMENT BECAUSE 
SUBSTANTIAL POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS ARE AT STAKE. 

HE SAYS BURMA'S REFUSAL TO ALLOW MICHAEL ARIS -- THE HUSBAND OF 
BURMESE OPPOSITION LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI -- TO VISIT HER BEFORE
HIS DEATH LAST SATURDAY DID NOT HELP RELATIONS BETWEEN THE E-U 
AND BURMA.  

     //  ERATH ACTUALITY //

IT CERTAINLY DID NOT HELP.  HIS TREATMENT CONFIRMED ALL THOSE 
WHO THINK THAT THIS IS A PRETTY HOPELESS STATE OF AFFAIRS.  AND 
IT CERTAINLY DIDN'T ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO THINK, OKAY, NOW LET'S 

TALK TO THESE PEOPLE.  IT WAS A SAD MOMENT AND WAS CERTAINLY NOT 
HELPFUL. 

    // END ACTUALITY//

SOME WESTERN NATIONS ACCUSE BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT OF 
SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.  SANCTIONS WERE IMPOSED BY THE 
UNITED STATES AND EUROPE AFTER BURMA'S MILITARY LEADERS REFUSED 
TO TURN OVER POWER TO THE OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR 
DEMOCRACY PARTY, WHICH WON A LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN ELECTIONS IN 
1990. (SIGNED)

NEB / GC / GC / WD


31-Mar-99 6:55 AM EST (1155 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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