EU to let Rangoon join joint sessio

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: EU to let Rangoon join joint session under conditions 

                                        October 28, 1998 


                                


             BURMA / EUROPEAN UNION

 EU to let Rangoon
 join joint session
 under conditions

 Ends year-long standoff with Asean 

 Achara Ashayagachat

 The European Union, after a year-long standoff with the Association
 of Southeast Asian Nations, has agreed to let Burma attend a meeting
 between the two groupings under special conditions.

 The Foreign Ministry said yesterday the Joint Co-operation
 Committee meeting between Asean and the European Commission,
 postponed since November, would be held this year.

 Ministry spokesman Kobsak Chutikul cited a statement from EU
 foreign ministers in Luxembourg yesterday.

 Burma joined Asean in July 1997 but is yet to accede to the 1980
 Asean-EC cooperation agreement under which the meeting is held.
 The EC is the external trade arm of the 15-strong European grouping.

 Thailand appreciated the EU's recognition of the importance of
 relations with Asean that this decision reflected, the spokesman said.

 Burma also showed flexibility by offering to refrain from speaking at
 the meeting if not necessary, he added.

 Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan came up with the formula for the
 meeting during talks between Asean and the EU in Manila last July,
 according to Saroj Chavanaviraj, the permanent secretary for foreign
 affairs.

 The statement from Luxembourg has been interpreted as meaning the
 EU sought to link Burma's future participation to conditions in the
 country. 

 But Mr Saroj said Thailand understood there would be no need for
 further talks on the matter for subsequent JCC meetings.

 The EU statement said: "It is without prejudice to Burmese
 representation at future meetings held under that agreement which will
 need to be decided in the light of the situation in Burma."

                                                       
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