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AFP-EU urges Myanmar to take furthe



Subject: AFP-EU urges Myanmar to take further steps to democracy

EU urges Myanmar to take further steps to democracy
SINGAPORE, July 25 (AFP) - The European Union (EU) has urged Myanmar to
demonstrate further its willingness to improve its human rights situation, a
top EU diplomat said here Sunday.
Foreign Minister Tarja Halonen of Finland, which currently heads the
rotating EU presidency, also expressed optimism over a secret visit made by
a special EU mission earlier this month to Yangon.

Halonen said she had held "good" talks with Myanmar Foreign Minister Win
Aung Sunday on the eve of the ASEAN Regional Forum security meetings hosted
by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"The discussion was good in the sense that in the conversation the
information was delivered very freely," she told AFP.

"But of course I cannot say, it's too early to say anything about
implementation on their side," she added, referring to the implementation of
steps by the military-run government in Myanmar to improve democracy and
human rights in that country.

Halonen said she had informed Win Aung of the EU's forthcoming announcement
on its policy toward Myanmar, which will be made in September in Brussels.

The EU had last made its position known on Myanmar in April, when it
reiterated its call for Myanmar "to take concrete steps" towards democracy,
respect for human rights and national reconciliation, Halonen said.

In July, a four-man team representing Finland, Portugal, the EU secretariat
and the European Commission traveled to Yangon to hold sensitive talks with
powerful junta First Secretary Khin Nyunt, and Myanmar opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi.

"We were happy for the fact that the EU could pay this visit because that
meant already a step forward and the opening process of (Myanmar)," she
said.

"Of course we have requested that further steps should be taken so
representatives of the EU community could see with their own eyes what the
situation is," Halonen added.

The EU was strongly opposed to Myanmar joining ASEAN in July 1997, citing
gross human rights abuses and its refusal to recognise the result of a 1990
election.

Political dialogue between the junta and the EU has been on ice since the EU
imposed sanctions in 1996.


Washington backed the EU mission to Yangon in July.

On Sunday, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright charged that Myanmar's
iron-hand rule was a "threat" to the region and urged Yangon to open
dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi.

The EU is to hold a dialogue with ASEAN foreign ministers on Tuesday.

Halonen said they would raise regional security and economic issues with the
ministers.