BBC-EU-Asia end Burma stalemate

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Monday, May 24, 1999 Published at 11:57 GMT 12:57 UK
World: Asia-Pacific

EU-Asia end Burma stalemate

High-level trade talks between the European Union and the Association of
South East Asian States resumed today after a lengthy stalemate over the
admission of Burma to the ASEAN.

The EU does not recognise the military authorities in Burma because they
failed to accept the results of the 1990 Burmese elections, which were won
by the opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

After Burma joined ASEAN two years ago, EU officials refused to meet their
Burmese counterparts, resulting in the cancellation of joint EU-ASEAN
meetings.

However Burma has agreed not to speak at this week's meeting in the Thai
capital, Bangkok, and EU representatives will not use it as a forum to raise
their concerns about alleged human rights abuses in Burma.

>From the newsroom of the BBC World Service