Myanmar dealt blow over accord

Myanmar dealt blow over accord

BRUSSELS (AFP): The European Commission has proposed protocols
extending a cooperation accord between the European Union and
ASEAN to Laos and Cambodia, but not to Myanmar.

"It is expected that the (European) Council will approve the
protocols, so that they can be signed on 28 July ... during the
ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference in Bangkok," the commission
said in a statement.

"These protocols will allow the two countries to benefit from
the European Community economic cooperation projects and programs
provided under the regional cooperation agreement with ASEAN, and
to strengthen their dialog" with the European Community," it
said.

It added: "There is no intention at present to extend the EC-
ASEAN Cooperation Agreement to Burma," or Myanmar, as it calls
itself. Myanmar has been a pariah to most Western nations,
including the EU and U.S., since its military regime bloodily
suppressed prodemocracy protests in 1988.