France opposed to sanctions against

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Subject: France opposed to sanctions against Myanmar

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1. France opposed to sanctions against Myanmar
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France opposed to sanctions against Myanmar

BANGKOK, Oct 21 (AFP) - France believes pressure should be maintained
against the military junta in Myanmar but is opposed to economic sanctions,
French minister for cooperation and Francophonie, Charles Josselin said
here Wednesday.

"France has always had reservations" about sanctions on any country
"because it is nearly always the civilian population, and generally the
weakest sections, who are the first victims of economic sanctions which
themselves fail to achieve their stated political objectives," he said.

Pressure should be brought through talks between European and Asian nations
in the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), he said.

ASEM groups the 15 European Union nations and Brunei, China, Indonesia,
Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Josselin met Wednesday with Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan and was
due to leave later in the day for Laos.

Myanmar's junta Tuesday stepped up its protest of Britain's calls for
tougher sanctions.

The junta published a press release condemning recent calls by Britain for
censure, and an International Labour Organisation (ILO) study saying the
use of forced labour was widespread.

The junta refuses to recognise 1990 general elections in Myanmar which the
National League for Democracy (NLD) under Aung San Suu Kyi won by a large
majority.

Aung San Suu Kyi has urged the international community to sever trade ties
and for tourists to stay away from the country in an effort to force the
junta's hand.

The United States, Canada and the European Union, as well as a slew of US
domestic communities, have introduced economic sanctions and boycotts to
pressure the Yangon government on human rights.