ASEAN-EU hail 'new dynamic' in ties after Bangkok talks<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (AFP): ASEAN and the European Union hailed a \"new
\ndynamic\" in their relations on Wednesday at their first talks
\nsince a row erupted over Myanmar's human rights record two years
\nago.<\/p>\n
Envoys were meeting at a central Bangkok hotel to try to
\nrepair a relationship soured when Myanmar joined the Association
\nof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1997 in the face of stiff
\nopposition from Europe and the United States.<\/p>\n
Members of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) praised the
\ncompromise which permitted Myanmar to join the talks in a
\n\"passive\" role and called for closer contacts between the two
\nregional groups.<\/p>\n
European Union Director for South and Southeast Asia Emiliano
\nFossati said the talks, which end Thursday, were proof of a \"new
\ndynamic\" in European relations with the ASEAN.<\/p>\n
He called for a more \"profound dialogue,\" and said the next
\nmeeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee would be in Europe,
\nalthough no date has yet been set.<\/p>\n
The venue could conceivably cause more friction between the
\ntwo blocs as Yangon officials face a visa ban in Europe under EU
\nrestrictions imposed to punish perceived human fights violations
\nin Myanmar.<\/p>\n
Fossanti said the question of Myanmar's status at the talks
\nwould be considered closer to the time.<\/p>\n
He denied that the compromise which allowed Myanmar to take
\npart signaled any relaxation in Europe's tough line toward
\nYangon's generals.<\/p>\n
\"The EU has reached a common position on Burma (Myanmar),\" he
\nsaid. \"Our side does not see any sufficient improvement in the
\nsituation in Burma -- ASEAN has a different view and we
\nunderstand the reasons ASEAN enlarged the group but of course we
\nmaintain our position.\"<\/p>\n
EU officials have refused to sit down on the same terms as
\nMyanmar officials, causing the cancellation of two planned joint
\nmeetings and a foreign minister's meeting earlier this year in
\nBerlin.<\/p>\n
\"We think that these differences are not an obstacle ... our
\nposition will change when we believe there has been a sufficient
\nchange in the Burmese attitudes,\" said Fossanti.<\/p>\n
A leading ASEAN official from Thailand, Anucha Osathanond said
\nthe talks had been a \"great success\" and said it had been agreed
\nto set up two new subcommittees to cover the environment and
\nnarcotics.<\/p>\n
Officials said the next political meeting between EU and ASEAN
\ncould take place on the sidelines of a forthcoming ASEAN meeting
\nin Singapore later this year.<\/p>\n
Myanmar's junta is accused of a catalog of serious human
\nrights abuses and vilified for refusing to cede power to Aung San
\nSuu Kyi's opposition, which won a landslide victory in elections
\nin 1990.<\/p>\n
EU officials agreed in March that Myanmar should not any
\nlonger hold relations with ASEAN hostage but granted the junta
\nonly a \"passive role\" at the talks.<\/p>\n
Officially, Myanmar is a mute presence as it is not a
\nsignatory to the original 1980 EU-ASEAN cooperation agreement.<\/p>\n
The EU in April extended sanctions against Myanmar in protest
\nagainst ongoing human rights abuses and the junta's rejection of
\nthe results of the 1990 elections.<\/p>\n
The sanctions, which include a halt to non-humanitarian aid
\nand a visa ban against senior Yangon officials, were first
\napplied in 1996 and effectively block ASEAN from attending talks
\nin Europe.<\/p>\n
Western attitudes to Myanmar were further hardened this year
\nwhen the junta refused Aung San Suu Kyi's dying British husband
\npermission to visit her in Yangon to say a final goodbye.<\/p>\n
Apart from Myanmar, ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia,
\nIndonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
\nand Vietnam.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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