WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1879/96 by Glenys KINNOCK to the Council. EU relations with Burma
Date: 1996-07-12
Institutions: European Parliament, KINNOCK
Subjects: ASEAN, Myanmar/Burma, admission of aliens, democracy, human rights, international cooperation, military regime, the EU's international role













EUR-Lex - 91996E1879 - EN






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91996E1879

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1879/96 by Glenys KINNOCK to the Council. EU relations with Burma  


Official Journal C 083 , 14/03/1997 P. 0003 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1879/96 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Council (12 July 1996)Subject: EU relations with BurmaWhat is the reaction of the EU to the inclusion of Burma in the ASEAN Regional Forum with which the EU will be meeting on 22 July? Will the EU delegation take this opportunity to renew the aborted 'critical dialogue' with the delegation from Burma? If not, by what other means does the EU intend to carry out a 'critical dialogue' with Burma?Answer (17 January 1997)1. The European Union took part in the third ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Jakarta on 23 July 1996. The meeting was attended by all the participants in the Regional Forum, including India and Burma/Myanmar for the first time. The European Union also held a bilateral meeting with Burma/Myanmar alongside the ARF. The Union availed itself of this opportunity to express its concern at the situation prevailing in the country. Burma/Myanmar set out the path which it is following with a view to setting up a democratic regime and stated that its aim was to organize presidential elections and guarantee the separation of powers. The European Union emphasized the importance it attached to the commitments undertaken by Burma/Myanmar in this respect.2. On 26 September 1996 the European Union also had a bilateral meeting with Mr OHn GYAW, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Burma/Myanmar, on the occasion of the 51st United Nations General Assembly. At this meeting the European Union again expressed its concern at recent developments in the situation in Burma/Myanmar. The European Union was disappointed at the outcome as Burma/Myanmar did not seem interested in pursuing a meaningful dialogue with it. Nevertheless, the European Union reaffirmed its determination to resume such dialogue at any time.3. The European Union is concerned at the absence of progress towards democratization and at the continuing violation of human rights in Burma/Myanmar. It notes that the military regime has yet to demonstrate convincingly its intention to establish civilian democratic rule, within a credible time-frame. In addition, the European Union notes the failure of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) to demonstrate any willingness to respond to the concerns of the United Nations General Assembly and the European Union.4. With a view to promoting progress towards democratization and securing the immediate and unconditional release of detained political prisoners, the European Union recently confirmed the measures already adopted (explusion of all military personnel attached to the diplomatic representations of Burma/Myanmar in Member States of the European Union and withdrawal of all military personnel attached to diplomatic representatives of the Member States of the European Union in Burma/Myanmar; an embargo on arms, munitions and military equipment and the suspension of non-humanitarian aid or development programmes).It also adopted additional measures, such as a ban on entry visas for senior members of the SLORC and their families and for senior members of the military or the security forces and the suspension of high-level governmental visits.