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Talks off due to Burma's rights rec



Subject: Talks off due to Burma's rights record

ASEAN-EU MEETING

Talks off due to Burma's rights record
German envoy also cites time constraints

Achara Ashayagachat Bhanravee Tansubhapol

Burma's failure to improve human rights was partly responsible for the
postponement of the Asean-European Union meeting that was due to have opened
yesterday, European ambassadors said yesterday.

But German ambassador Hermann Erath expressed confidence that a meeting of
foreign ministers of the two groupings in Berlin, in March, would sort out
the problem of enhancing cooperation between the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations and the EU, and obtaining improvements in human rights in
Burma.

Set for March 30, the ministerial meeting will cover political, social,
cultural as well as economic aspects of cooperation, he added.

Though many people in Europe still insist on adherence to European
principles on human rights, Germany believes change in Burma is better
achieved through dialogue rather than through exclusion, noted the
ambassador of the rotating presidency.

Thailand on Friday announced an indefinite postponement of the 13th Asean-EU
Joint Co-operation Committee after the two groupings failed to agree on the
conditions for the participation of Burma and Laos. It was the second
postponement of a meeting Bangkok was first scheduled to host in November
1997.

The meeting was rescheduled for this week after the two sides agreed in
October to Burma's participation as an observer provided it did not talk, if
this was not necessary. The agreement also provided for the display of Asean
and EU flags rather than national flags.

Besides Burma's human rights situation, Ambassador Erath cited time
constraints in reaching a consensus on the "modalities" of the meeting as
another reason for the second postponement. The EU had proposed that Burma
and Laos sit behind a plaque reading "new member", and Thailand came up with
a counter-proposal that the plaque read "non-signatory".

Burma and Laos entered Asean in July 1997, joining Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. But neither have
acceded to the 1980 Asean-EU cooperation agreement.


Michel Caillouet, head of delegation of the European Commission to Thailand,
said the problems were more technical. "There are some bureaucratic
procedures for both sides, but we are very near [a consensus] ," Mr
Caillouet told the Bangkok Post.

Foreign Ministry sources said the JCC meeting could take place next month as
other Asean members seem to be agreeable to the Thai proposal for Burma and
Laos to sit behind a "non-signatory" plaque. "We, however, have to hear from
Burma as well," the sources added.

Asked if there were possibilities for extending aid to Burma in exchange for
improvement in human rights, Mr Erath emphasised the need for "mutual
cooperation" from both sides.

"For Burma, there should be some signs of positive development like talks
between the government and the opposition, otherwise it would be difficult
to start talking of financial assistance," he said.