ASEAN-EU hail 'new dynamic' in ties after Bangkok talks

ASEAN-EU hail 'new dynamic' in ties after Bangkok talks

BANGKOK (AFP): ASEAN and the European Union hailed a "new
dynamic" in their relations on Wednesday at their first talks
since a row erupted over Myanmar's human rights record two years
ago.

Envoys were meeting at a central Bangkok hotel to try to
repair a relationship soured when Myanmar joined the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1997 in the face of stiff
opposition from Europe and the United States.

Members of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) praised the
compromise which permitted Myanmar to join the talks in a
"passive" role and called for closer contacts between the two
regional groups.

European Union Director for South and Southeast Asia Emiliano
Fossati said the talks, which end Thursday, were proof of a "new
dynamic" in European relations with the ASEAN.

He called for a more "profound dialogue," and said the next
meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee would be in Europe,
although no date has yet been set.

The venue could conceivably cause more friction between the
two blocs as Yangon officials face a visa ban in Europe under EU
restrictions imposed to punish perceived human fights violations
in Myanmar.

Fossanti said the question of Myanmar's status at the talks
would be considered closer to the time.

He denied that the compromise which allowed Myanmar to take
part signaled any relaxation in Europe's tough line toward
Yangon's generals.

"The EU has reached a common position on Burma (Myanmar)," he
said. "Our side does not see any sufficient improvement in the
situation in Burma -- ASEAN has a different view and we
understand the reasons ASEAN enlarged the group but of course we
maintain our position."

EU officials have refused to sit down on the same terms as
Myanmar officials, causing the cancellation of two planned joint
meetings and a foreign minister's meeting earlier this year in
Berlin.

"We think that these differences are not an obstacle ... our
position will change when we believe there has been a sufficient
change in the Burmese attitudes," said Fossanti.

A leading ASEAN official from Thailand, Anucha Osathanond said
the talks had been a "great success" and said it had been agreed
to set up two new subcommittees to cover the environment and
narcotics.

Officials said the next political meeting between EU and ASEAN
could take place on the sidelines of a forthcoming ASEAN meeting
in Singapore later this year.

Myanmar's junta is accused of a catalog of serious human
rights abuses and vilified for refusing to cede power to Aung San
Suu Kyi's opposition, which won a landslide victory in elections
in 1990.

EU officials agreed in March that Myanmar should not any
longer hold relations with ASEAN hostage but granted the junta
only a "passive role" at the talks.

Officially, Myanmar is a mute presence as it is not a
signatory to the original 1980 EU-ASEAN cooperation agreement.

The EU in April extended sanctions against Myanmar in protest
against ongoing human rights abuses and the junta's rejection of
the results of the 1990 elections.

The sanctions, which include a halt to non-humanitarian aid
and a visa ban against senior Yangon officials, were first
applied in 1996 and effectively block ASEAN from attending talks
in Europe.

Western attitudes to Myanmar were further hardened this year
when the junta refused Aung San Suu Kyi's dying British husband
permission to visit her in Yangon to say a final goodbye.

Apart from Myanmar, ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia,
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
and Vietnam.