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NEWS - Myanmar-EU Break Ice, Thaw t
- Subject: NEWS - Myanmar-EU Break Ice, Thaw t
- From: Rangoonp@xxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1999 21:48:00
Subject: NEWS - Myanmar-EU Break Ice, Thaw to Take Time
Myanmar-EU Break Ice, Thaw to Take Time
Reuters
13-JUL-99
YANGON, July 13 (Reuters) - After years of wrangling with
military-ruled Myanmar over its democracy and human
rights
curbs, the West has finally broken some ice by meeting
the
country''s reticent generals.
The sudden change of tack by the West, represented by the
European Union, with support from the United States,
caught
some of Myanmar's bitter critics offguard.
But Myanmar watchers believe the July 6-7 talks were a
significant initial step, with the prospect in the long
run to
break new ground in Yangon's dealings with the West and
the local opposition led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi.
Some Yangon and Bangkok-based diplomats said the
delegation discussed cash-strapped Myanmar's rising
humanitarian needs. It also examined a stalemate that has
obstructed dialogue between the military and Suu Kyi's
National League for Democracy since her release from
house arrest four years ago.
The EU, like the United States, maintains sanctions on
Myanmar aimed at forcing the ruling State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC) to allow greater freedoms.
"This is the first time an EU delegation has visited
Yangon
officially. It seems to be a change of tactic... to make
a more
friendly approach," said a diplomat who met government
officials and Suu Kyi last week in Yangon.
"It's difficult to predict how things will go in Myanmar
as
usually changes never happen quickly in that country. So
the
EU-Myanmar talks must be seen in that light."
The middle-level EU delegation met protagonists Suu Kyi
and the powerful intelligence chief Lieutenant-General
Khin
Nyunt.
The EU's primary objective in holding the meeting with
Myanmar's military rulers was to improve recently deeply
soured ties between both sides, EU officials have said.
The Myanmar issue has dogged EU relations with the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations since Yangon
joined
the group two years ago. The EU bans senior Yangon
officials from its borders, a restriction that forced
cancellation
of a bloc-to-bloc ministerial meeting earlier this year.
Another diplomat said the EU had changed its tack on
Myanmar because it believed humanitarian aid could move
the generals into sparking some internal political
change.
"We have to wait and see if there will be some positive
results from these talks. The focus will be on
humanitarian
cooperation first," the diplomat said.
The SPDC has so far refused to hold a dialogue with Suu
Kyi and curbed her activities. It has said that, for
talks to
begin, the NLD must first drop its demand for the
convening
of a People's Parliament of elected representatives from
a
1990 election the NLD swept but the military ignored.
The NLD recently waved an olive branch by seeking lower
level talks as a first step leading to a summit at which
Suu
Kyi would be present. The SPDC has spurned the request
so far.
NLD vice chairman Tin Oo told Reuters last week that the
EU delegation's visit was a positive step. Although the
talks
were initial, any such movement was welcome, he said.
Analysts said the EU would now have to hold more rounds
of
bilateral talks within its own grouping before moving
forward
to more substantial dealings with Myanmar. That could
take
time.
As for the SPDC, analysts said the future hinges on how
well
it can weather severe economic pressures, including a
sharp
cut in the flow of investment into the country in the
past year
amid the Asian financial crisis.
Myanmar has precarious financial reserves, just enough to
finance two months of imports, according to the central
bank.
Myanmar also wants World Bank and International Monetary
Fund assistance to help it beat tough economic times.
If economic needs become dire, then the chances of some
softening and minor concession granting on the political
front
by the generals could occur, analysts said.
But a senior military officer said: "We don't want
outsiders,
especially the West to dictate to us. We are not ready
yet to
practise Western style democracy. But we have enough food
to feed our people and can withstand the stumbling blocks
placed on us."
Despite the hardline talk, government officials,
including
Foreign Minister Win Aung, see the EU initiative taken
this
time with Myanmar as ground-breaking.
"They have to go back and hold further discussions among
themselves. Let's see what the EU will come up with,"
said
the senior military official.