ASEAN, EU increase pressure on Myanmar<\/p>\n
Ivy Susanti and Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The world's two influential regional organizations -- the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European
\nUnion (EU) -- put more pressure on Myanmar on Thursday to pave
\nthe way for democracy by asking its military junta to grant
\naccess to a UN representative and to free democracy-icon Aung San
\nSuu Kyi.<\/p>\n
The ministers from both ASEAN and the EU issued a joint
\nstatement after the 15th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) on
\nThursday. They noted the developments after the recent national
\nconvention in Myanmar and expressed \"their strong hopes for
\nconcrete results\" from that convention.<\/p>\n
\"The ministers called on Myanmar in a written statement to
\ngrant access to the special representative of the United Nations
\nsecretary-general and to continue effective cooperation with all
\nUnited Nations agencies,\" without mentioning the request for the
\nrelease of Suu Kyi, said.<\/p>\n
The demand for her release came from Luxembourg, which
\ncurrently holds the EU presidency.<\/p>\n
Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said on Thursday
\nthe EU specifically asked Myanmar to release Nobel laureate Suu
\nKyi.<\/p>\n
\"We asked, from the European side, for the release of all
\npolitical prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi,\" Asselborn said.<\/p>\n
Asselborn said the EU believed ASEAN members could play a
\nmajor role in propelling Myanmar toward democracy.<\/p>\n
\"We do our best and I think also on the Asian side, a lot of
\npressure is possible. We have to help this regime to see that the
\nonly way in the future of the 21st century is democracy,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Separately, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan
\nWirayuda, the host of the AEMM, said that implementing the values
\nof human rights, democracy and practicing good governance in
\nMyanmar were \"pressing issues\".<\/p>\n
\"But we welcome Myanmar's willingness to explain the
\ndevelopments in its country,\" Hassan said on the sidelines of the
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
On the security front, the ministers reaffirmed their
\ncommitment to combat terrorism in accordance with international
\nobligations, the UN charter and general norms of international
\nlaw, including respect for human rights and humanitarian law.<\/p>\n
\"The ministers emphasize the importance of addressing the root
\ncauses of terrorism and avoiding the identification of terrorism
\nwith any particular religion or ethnic group or nationality,\" the
\njoint statement said.<\/p>\n
\"We reaffirmed our commitment to strengthen cooperation to
\ncombat terrorism as well as transnational crimes,\" Asselborn
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
With regard the tsunami disaster, the ministers underlined the
\nimportance of coordination of assistance programs and their
\nalignment with national reconstruction strategies as well as
\nsupported the initiative to establish an early warning system in
\nthe region.<\/p>\n
The ministers also shared views on North Korea, the Middle
\nEast, Iraq, the implementation of WTO's Doha Agenda and the
\nfuture relations between the two regions.<\/p>\n
It was decided that the next meeting of foreign ministers
\nwould take place in Europe in 2007.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, European Commissioner for External Relations Benita
\nFerrero-Waldner urged countries in ASEAN and EU to work together
\nin the reconstruction of tsunami-affected areas.<\/p>\n
\"It was very sad to see what happened, therefore we have to
\nwork together,\" Ferrero-Waldner, who visited Aceh on Friday,
\nsaid at a press conference in Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"The world must not forget the terrible devastation the
\ntsunami brought to Southeast Asia. The generous promises made in
\nthe immediate aftermath must be kept. Of the 350 million euros
\n(US$460 million) that the European Commission alone hopes to make
\navailable for post-tsunami reconstruction I intend to devote over
\n200 million euros to Indonesia,\" she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-eu-increase-pressure-on-myanmar-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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