For their part, the EU has been trying to secure agreement from Burma to allow an EU delegation not only to visit the country in January, but also to meet opposition leaders such as Aung San Suu Kyi. Many of the European ministers remain determined to keep Burma's human rights record on the agenda. The Asean country that has taken the lead in trying to repair relations between the two blocs is Thailand. Therefore we would like to see the ministerial meeting being put back on track. Assertive There are also differences over what the joint declaration might say about the recent violence in the Middle East.
Officials say that so far, Malaysia has been the most assertive Asean member.
As for the EU, Britain, Belgium and the Nordic countries have been taking the strongest line on Burma. It had been hoped to wrap up the official-level talks by Saturday, but a full session on Sunday failed to bridge the gaps. Now it is likely that officials will have to continue their search for a joint declaration on Monday, and maybe right through to Tuesday lunch time, when the summit ends.