Dateline- Asean, EU meeting put off (r)

[cabaret96@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Re: Dateline- Asean, EU meeting put off indefinitely



There have been a few postings which are backdated by a couple of months 
at least although the news seem to be current. It can be very misleading 
sometimes as to when certain events occured.

S Cabaret




>Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 18:51:54 -0700>From: suriya 
<suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: Asean, EU meeting put off indefinitely>To: 
burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>Headlines>Asean, EU meeting put off indefinitely>
>THE Asean-European Union Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) in Germany will be
>postponed indefinitely as the European countries refuse to budge 
onBurma, a
>high-ranking Foreign Ministry official said on Tuesday.>
>The Asean countries are equally adamant in their position that 
Burma,as>one of
>its members, should be able to take part in the AEMM in Berlin 
nextmonth>as it
>is a block-to-block meeting, permanent secretary Saroj 
Chavanavirajinsisted.>
>''Under the present circumstances, it is fair to say that the 
AEMM,which>is to
>be held right after the Asian-European Meeting on March 30, will 
bepostponed
>indefinitely as there is no settlement between the Asean states and 
theEU
>members on Burma's presence,'' Saroj said.>
>Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan is presently on a European trip 
fromwhich a
>breakthrough on the matter is expected, he added.>
>Saroj's comment came after the United Kingdom, an EU member, said 
itwill
>refuse to sit down with Burmese Foreign Minister Win Aung at the AEMM.
>As unanimity is required for Burma to attend, opposition by even 
onecountry
>could force the meeting to be cancelled. Another major obstacle 
barring>Rangoon
>from the meeting is the EU's visa ban on top Burmese officials.
>Burma has been at the heart of the controversy between the 
bothgroupings>which
>meet every one-and-a-half-year to discuss inter-regional 
cooperation.The
>country, which was admitted into Asean in 1997, has been 
stronglycondemned by
>the Europeans for its poor record on human rights and its 
dictatorship.>
>''Burma has shown a positive approach by agreeing to discuss any 
topicraised
>by the EU at the AEMM, ranging from human rights to democracy. Burma 
isalso
>ready to talk to the EU troika,'' Saroj said.>
>In a recent letter to Foreign Minister Surin, his Burmese 
counterpartWin Aung
>said he would welcome any topic for discussion and would brief the 
EU>countries
>on political and economic developments in Burma.>
>Germany, this year's EU president, has tried hard to convince other 

EUmembers
>to relax their stance on Burma, including those who have imposed a 
visaban on
>senior Burmese government officials.>
>It has hinted earlier that Burma might be admitted if the human rights
>situation there was discussed. However, the UK's refusal to sit 
withRangoon>
>closed the door on Berlin's attempt.>>BY MARISA CHIMPRABHA>The Nation

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