Statement from Mr Simon Coveney MEP on European Commission Conference on "supporting Burma/Myanmar's National Reconciliation Process" being held to day in Brussels,

5 April - Burma Day.

The European Commission Conference on "Supporting Burma/Myanmar's National Reconciliation Process" being held to-day (April 5-Burma Day) in Brussels must not signal a weakening in the European Union's resolve to seek to end the grip of the military junta in Burma.

Speaking from the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Mr Simon Coveney MEP reiterated the importance of maintaining strict smart sanctions against Burma as long as the regime continues to flout democracy and the international rule of law.

"the European Union cannot be seen to engage with a regime

that has banned all opposition parties,

that has placed the main opposition leader and Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi in isolation under continual house arrest,

that continues to recruit children to the Burmese army for front line duties such as transport of arms or delivery of messages",

Mr Coveney said.

"I wish to remind the Commission of the "Council Common Position of October 2004 on additional restrictive measures against Burma in view of the continuing repressive nature of the regime"

"The Political situation has not improved in Burma/Myanmar - to be sending out mixed messages to the Burmese Junta and to the ASEAN Group of Nations as Burma is poised to take over the chairmanship of the ASEAN Group in 2006 is ill-advised and bordering on reckless.

The Burmese Regime must be in no doubt that the European Union will not support the status quo in Burma and will continue to bring pressure to bear on the regime to make urgent and necessary steps towards democracy for all the people of Burma.

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Simon Coveney MEP can be contacted at 00 353 87 8321755