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Reuters-Myanmar-EU break ice, thaw



Subject: Reuters-Myanmar-EU break ice, thaw to take time 

Myanmar-EU break ice, thaw to take time
06:14 a.m. Jul 13, 1999 Eastern
By Rajan Moses

YANGON, July 13 (Reuters) - After years of wrangling with military-ruled
Myanmar over its democracy and human rights curbs, the West has finally
broken some ice by meeting the country's reticent generals.

The sudden change of tack by the West, represented by the European Union,
with support from the United States, caught some of Myanmar's bitter critics
offguard.

But Myanmar watchers believe the July 6-7 talks were a significant initial
step, with the prospect in the long run to break new ground in Yangon's
dealings with the West and the local opposition led by Nobel peace laureate
Aung San Suu Kyi.

Some Yangon and Bangkok-based diplomats said the delegation discussed
cash-strapped Myanmar's rising humanitarian needs. It also examined a
stalemate that has obstructed dialogue between the military and Suu Kyi's
National League for Democracy since her release from house arrest four years
ago.

The EU, like the United States, maintains sanctions on Myanmar aimed at
forcing the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to allow
greater freedoms.

``This is the first time an EU delegation has visited Yangon officially. It
seems to be a change of tactic... to make a more friendly approach,'' said a
diplomat who met government officials and Suu Kyi last week in Yangon.

``It's difficult to predict how things will go in Myanmar as usually changes
never happen quickly in that country. So the EU-Myanmar talks must be seen
in that light.''

The middle-level EU delegation met protagonists Suu Kyi and the powerful
intelligence chief Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt.

The EU's primary objective in holding the meeting with Myanmar's military
rulers was to improve recently deeply soured ties between both sides, EU
officials have said.

The Myanmar issue has dogged EU relations with the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations since Yangon joined the group two years ago. The EU bans
senior Yangon officials from its borders, a restriction that forced
cancellation of a bloc-to-bloc ministerial meeting earlier this year.

Another diplomat said the EU had changed its tack on Myanmar because it
believed humanitarian aid could move the generals into sparking some
internal political change.

``We have to wait and see if there will be some positive results from these
talks. The focus will be on humanitarian cooperation first,'' the diplomat
said.

The SPDC has so far refused to hold a dialogue with Suu Kyi and curbed her
activities. It has said that, for talks to begin, the NLD must first drop
its demand for the convening of a People's Parliament of elected
representatives from a 1990 election the NLD swept but the military ignored.

The NLD recently waved an olive branch by seeking lower level talks as a
first step leading to a summit at which Suu Kyi would be present. The SPDC
has spurned the request so far.

NLD vice chairman Tin Oo told Reuters last week that the EU delegation's
visit was a positive step. Although the talks were initial, any such
movement was welcome, he said.

Analysts said the EU would now have to hold more rounds of bilateral talks
within its own grouping before moving forward to more substantial dealings
with Myanmar. That could take time.

As for the SPDC, analysts said the future hinges on how well it can weather
severe economic pressures, including a sharp cut in the flow of investment
into the country in the past year amid the Asian financial crisis.

Myanmar has precarious financial reserves, just enough to finance two months
of imports, according to the central bank. Myanmar also wants World Bank and
International Monetary Fund assistance to help it beat tough economic times.

If economic needs become dire, then the chances of some softening and minor
concession granting on the political front by the generals could occur,
analysts said.

But a senior military officer said: ``We don't want outsiders, especially
the West to dictate to us. We are not ready yet to practise Western style
democracy. But we have enough food to feed our people and can withstand the
stumbling blocks placed on us.''

Despite the hardline talk, government officials, including Foreign Minister
Win Aung, see the EU initiative taken this time with Myanmar as
ground-breaking.

``They have to go back and hold further discussions among themselves. Let's
see what the EU will come up with,'' said the senior military official.
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