EU has conditions for Myanmar acceptance<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (Agencies): Myanmar must allow visits by human
\nrights groups and take concrete steps towards democracy before
\nthe European Union will accept it on equal terms as other ASEAN
\nmembers, the EU Council president said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Tarja Halonen, also Finland's foreign affairs minister, said
\nthe EU has set conditions for its dealings with Myanmar that
\nincluded "the opening of the country for UN experts and other
\neminent organizations" to observe human rights conditions.<\/p>\n
The EU also wants "concrete steps in the democratic process
\nincluding discussion with the opposition", she told Reuters in an
\ninterview.<\/p>\n
The EU has imposed sanctions because of Myanmar's treatment of
\nits pro-democracy opposition led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu
\nKyi. Her party won the 1990 election by a landslide, but the
\nmilitary ignored the result and detained many of its members.<\/p>\n
The EU would also like to see Myanmar open up to non-
\ngovernmental organizations and a freer media, she added.<\/p>\n
Halonen, who met with Myanmar foreign minister Win Aung in
\nbilateral meetings in Singapore, said she had conveyed to her
\ncounterpart what the EU would like to see.<\/p>\n
"I had the impression that it was understood, but it remains
\nto be seen which way the implementation will take," she said.<\/p>\n
"No one expects any miracles," she said.<\/p>\n
EU sanctions, which bar senior Myanmar officials from entering
\nEurope, forced cancellation of an ASEAN-EU foreign ministers'
\nmeeting earlier this year after ASEAN said all its members should
\nattend or none would.<\/p>\n
The EU said on Tuesday it will not allow Myanmar
\nrepresentatives on proposed Southeast Asian roadshows, aimed at
\nluring investments, pending progress on human rights by Yangon.<\/p>\n
The EU made its stand known even as officials said the EU had
\nagreed with ASEAN to work towards resuming an annual ministerial
\nmeeting suspended due to differences over Myanmar.<\/p>\n
Manuel Marin, acting president of the European Commission,
\nsaid the EU's economic agreement with the ASEAN covering such
\nissues as investments, trade services and customs standards
\nomitted military-ruled Myanmar.<\/p>\n
The EU, which discusses the status of Myanmar twice a year,
\nwill review the country's progress at its next general affairs
\ncouncil meeting in September.<\/p>\n
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations groups Brunei,
\nCambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eu-has-conditions-for-myanmar-acceptance-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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