European Union takes firm like on B

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		EUROPEAN UNION TAKES FIRM LIKE ON BURMA.
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          The European Union has told ASEAN it won't attend a
          planned meeting in Bangkok next week if the Association
          insists Burma takes part.

          Majella Anning reports the E-U, like the United States,
          maintains a ban on all contacts with the Burmese military
          regime.

          BURMA'S ADMISSION TO ASEAN IS CAUSING
          INCREASING PROBLEMS FOR EU-ASEAN RELATIONS.
          THE EU MAINTAINS A BAN ON CONTACTS WITH
          OFFICIALS REPRESENTING BURMA'S MILITARY
          REGIME BECAUSE OF CONTINUING HUMAN RIGHTS
          VIOLATIONS IN THE COUNTRY. THE EU ALSO
          REFUSES TO ISSUE VISAS TO BURMESE
          GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. A PLANNED MEETING
          BETWEEN HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS FROM THE EU
          AND ASEAN NEXT WEEK IN BANGKOK IS LIKELY TO
          BE CALLED OFF BECAUSE OF ASEAN'S INSISTENCE
          THAT BURMA SHOULD HAVE FULL OBSERVER
          STATUS. A MORE CRUCIAL MEETING OF EU AND
          ASEAN LEADERS PLANNED FOR LONDON EARLY
          NEXT YEAR, IS ALSO UNDER A CLOUD, BECAUSE
          BURMESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE BARRED
          FROM ENTERING THE EU. MAJELLA ANNING,
          BRUSSELS. 

	[ABC News, 13 November 1997].

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