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EU TAKES STIFF LINE AGAINST BURMA



Subject: EU TAKES STIFF LINE AGAINST BURMA  28/6 BUSINESS TIMES



              EU takes stiff line against Myanmar 


By Shada Islam 

Statements surprise Asean diplomats, spark new concerns



EUROPEAN Union (EU) Foreign Ministers meeting in Luxembourg issued their
strongest warning
yet on Myanmar's membership of Asean. 

The 15 EU governments warned Asean not to press for Myanmar's participation
in the
EU-Asean cooperation agreement and said Yangon will not be asked to attend
an EU-Asia
summit in London next spring. 

The strong line surprised Asean diplomats and triggered concern that the
issue could become a
stumbling block in Europe's expanding relations with the region. 

Earlier this month, EU governments simply "took note" of Asean's decision to
embrace
Myanmar. But officials say several European governments, including London's
new Labour
government, were unhappy with the soft stance taken by Dutch Foreign
Minister Hans van Mierlo,
the current president of the EU Council of Ministers. 

"There was pressure to sharpen the language and deliver a stronger warning
to Asean," one EU
diplomat said. 

"That first statement was issued without too much preparation. This new
declaration is the
culmination of serious discussion in the EU Council of Ministers." 

EU foreign ministers now express "serious concern" at "the deteriorating
human rights situation in
Myanmar" and urge the country's military authorities to release all
pro-democracy prisoners. 

The EU has cut off high-level contacts with Myanmar and withdrawn trade
preferences. In
Luxembourg, the ministers said they would study "possible additional
measures" in September. 

EU officials say the new line reflects continuing scepticism over Asean's
policy of constructive
engagement, arguing this has not improved the human rights situation. 

"Asean must realise Myanmar cannot join the EU-Asean cooperation agreement,"
one EU
diplomat said. "Such an accession would never be accepted by our parliaments
or our public
opinion."