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ASEAN-EU MEETING : Talks postponed

Subject: ASEAN-EU MEETING : Talks postponed indefinitely Over Burma's

participation 
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ASEAN-EU MEETING : Talks postponed indefinitely Over Burma's =
participation=20

Thailand yesterday announced an indefinite postponement of talks between =
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union after =
they disagreed on conditions for Burma's participation.=20

The postponement was made because "the two sides cannot find a =
resolution on the meeting formality," Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman =
Kitti Wasinondh said.=20

The announcement came after the latest effort of Thailand, host of the =
13 Asean-EU Joint Cooperation Committee, which proposed that Burma and =
Laos sit behind a plaque that reads "non-signatory."=20

Bangkok circulated the proposal yesterday but the two groupings could =
not reach agreement in time.=20

The Thai proposal primarily aims to counter that of the EU, which wants =
a plaque reading "new member" to be placed in front of the seats of the =
Laotian and Burmese representatives.=20

Mr Kitti said the EU proposal was unacceptable as there were no longer =
new members in Asean, which the two countries joined two years ago.=20

Neither of the two have signed the Asean-EU cooperation agreement. But =
Laos has a bilateral agreement with the EU.=20

Yesterday's abrupt cancellation was the second time after the EU called =
for the postponement of the meeting in November 1997, when Asean =
insisted on Burma's participation as an observer.=20

Asean and the EU later agreed last October that Burma would attend as an =
observer and refrain from speaking if not necessary.=20

The agreement also provided for the meeting to display the flags of =
Asean and the EU rather than those of individual member states.=20

Sources said Brussels had sent a letter to Thailand to insist that Burma =
should not speak in the meeting.=20

A senior ministry official said Burma had agreed that its representative =
would not speak on issues involving inter-grouping cooperation. "But as =
a sovereign country, it cannot refrain from speaking on other issues, =
and it wants its dignity as an Asean member to be properly taken care =
of," the official said of the Burmese position.=20

Senior officials of the two groupings are supposed to discuss various =
issues including trade, economic, industrial, forestry and technical =
cooperation in the meeting starting on Monday.=20

The current cooperation agreement between Asean and the EU has been used =
since 1980.=20

(BKK Post)


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ASEAN-EU MEETING : Talks postponed indefinitely Over = Burma's=20
participation

Thailand yesterday announced an = indefinite=20 postponement of talks between
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations = and the=20 European Union after
they disagreed on conditions for Burma's = participation.=20 

The postponement was made because "the two sides cannot = find a=20 resolution
on the meeting formality," Foreign Ministry deputy = spokesman=20 Kitti
Wasinondh said. 

The announcement came after the latest = effort of=20 Thailand, host of the 13
Asean-EU Joint Cooperation Committee, which = proposed=20 that Burma and Laos
sit behind a plaque that reads = "non-signatory."=20 

Bangkok circulated the proposal yesterday but the two groupings = could=20 not
reach agreement in time. 

The Thai proposal primarily aims to = counter=20 that of the EU, which wants a
plaque reading "new member" to = be placed=20 in front of the seats of the
Laotian and Burmese representatives. = 

Mr=20 Kitti said the EU proposal was unacceptable as there were no longer
new =
members=20 in Asean, which the two countries joined two years ago. 

Neither = of the=20 two have signed the Asean-EU cooperation agreement. But
Laos has a = bilateral=20 agreement with the EU. 

Yesterday's abrupt cancellation was the = second=20 time after the EU called
for the postponement of the meeting in November = 1997,=20 when Asean insisted
on Burma's participation as an observer. = 

Asean and=20 the EU later agreed last October that Burma would attend as an
observer = and=20 refrain from speaking if not necessary. 

The agreement also = provided for=20 the meeting to display the flags of Asean
and the EU rather than those = of=20 individual member states. 

Sources said Brussels had sent a = letter to=20 Thailand to insist that Burma
should not speak in the meeting. 

A = senior=20 ministry official said Burma had agreed that its representative
would = not speak=20 on issues involving inter-grouping cooperation. "But as a
sovereign = country, it cannot refrain from speaking on other issues, and it
wants = its=20 dignity as an Asean member to be properly taken care of," the =
official said=20 of the Burmese position. 

Senior officials of the two groupings = are=20 supposed to discuss various
issues including trade, economic, = industrial,=20 forestry and technical
cooperation in the meeting starting on Monday.=20 

The current cooperation agreement between Asean and the EU has = been used=20
since 1980. 

(BKK Post)
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