EBO “Burma News” 28 January 2003

News Summary:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. EU, ASEAN switch tack from Myanmar to terror

2. EU Pressures Myanmar Over Human Rights, Democracy

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EU, ASEAN switch tack from Myanmar to terror

by Jitendra Joshi

BRUSSELS, Jan 28 (AFP) - The European Union unleashed hard-hitting

criticism of military-run Myanmar at a meeting with Southeast Asian countries

but was keen to avoid the issue souring ties between the two regions,

officials said Tuesday.

In talks late Monday between foreign ministers from the EU and the

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Britain, Italy and Sweden gave

a blunt message that Myanmar's democratic reform process had to pick up speed,

the officials said.

The two-yearly meeting between two of the world's biggest trading blocs

took place on EU territory for the first time with an official from

military-run Myanmar, Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win, in attendance.

The EU challenged Khin "in a very assertive way" about restrictions placed

on Myanmar opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi since her release from house

arrest, democratic reforms and humanitarian issues, ASEAN Secretary-General

Ong Keng Yong told AFP.

"I did not see a meeting of minds on this particular issue but what is

positive is that this exchange was conducted in a fairly constructive way.

There was no acrimony," the Singaporean official said.

Britain, Italy and Sweden, speaking for all 15 EU members, spoke

"forcefully" of the need for an accelerated return to democracy in Myanmar, as

well as the country's economic problems and its HIV-AIDS crisis, an EU

diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

"The point made most forcefully was that the release of Aung San Suu Kyi

has not been followed up by meaningful reforms," he said.

"Burma was forced to defend its position. Nobody on the ASEAN side spoke up

for them, which we welcome. It was very useful to sit down with them," he

added.

"But this was not a Burma meeting. There was a much broader agenda."

The EU and ASEAN foreign ministers adopted a joint anti-terrorism

declaration, in the wake of the devastating bombing last October of a

nightclub on the Indonesian island of Bali and a spate of attacks in the

Philippines.

The two sides pledged to boost cooperation between their police and

security agencies, such as Eurapol and its Southeast Asian equivalent

ASEANAPOL.

---------------------------------

EU Pressures Myanmar Over Human Rights, Democracy

Date : 2003-01-28

Brussels, Belgium (Reuters), Jan. 28: - The European Union ( news - web sites)

chided Myanmar Monday over its lack of democracy and poor human rights

record and also urged the southeast Asian country to open up its economy

to market reforms, diplomats said.

“Several EU countries raised their concerns but Myanmar said only that this was

a sensitive issue and asked the EU not to pressure it. (Myanmar) said it needed

more time to move toward democracy," one diplomat told Reuters.

“The EU also said it wanted more progress from Myanmar on reforming its

economy, which is in ruins," the diplomat added.

The criticism came during two days of talks between EU foreign ministers and

their counterparts from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

on boosting economic and political ties.

The 15-nation EU has in the past refused to issue visas for Myanmar officials

due to the country's human rights situation.

Britain, Myanmar's former colonial power, and the EU's Scandinavian members

have been especially critical of Myanmar, including its continued harassment of

veteran opposition leader and Nobel Peace prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Diplomats said the EU urged other ASEAN nations to encourage Myanmar to

implement political and economic reforms. The EU maintains sanctions against

Myanmar, including an arms embargo, visa bans, an asset freeze on senior

members of the regime and the suspension of trade privileges because of

its alleged use of forced labor.

###

If you do not wish to receive this daily newsletters, please reply

with your e-mail address and the "cancel" in the text section.

With many thanks,

Burma