European Council, Conclusions on Burma/Myanmar, 16 June 2003

BURMA/MYANMAR - Council Conclusions

1. The Council discussed the recent developments in Burma/Myanmar and expressed its continued grave concern over the events of 30 May 2003 and the deteriorating overall situation. The Council urged the Burmese authorities to immediately release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as well as other members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), and to re-open NLD offices and universities throughout the country.

2. The Council called on the Burmese authorities to ensure that those responsible for the attacks on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her colleagues at Saging during which a number of deaths occurred are held to account.

3. In order to re-launch a process of national reconciliation and transition to democracy in Burma/Myanmar, the Council urged the authorities to enter into a substantial and meaningful political dialogue with the NLD as well as other political groups. The Council reiterated its call to Burma to respect its promises to release all political prisoners and expressed its deep concern over the noted increase of politically motivated arrests.

4. The Council expressed its support for the ongoing efforts of the UNSG Special Representative to Burma/Myanmar, Ambassador Razali, and reiterated its support for the UN™s vital role in bringing about political progress in Burma/Myanmar.

5. Moreover, the Council encouraged the ASEAN countries and their key partners, in particular China, India and Japan, to use their influence to actively promote the necessary political change in Burma/Myanmar.

6. In accordance with its commitment to react proportionately to developments in Burma/Myanmar and in light of the serious deterioration of the situation in the country, especially over the last weeks, the Council decided to implement without delay the strengthened sanctions originally envisaged to enter into force by October 2003. The Council also decided to monitor closely the further evolution of the situation in Burma/Myanmar, and reaffirmed its readiness to react proportionately to future developments.

The Council further decided to postpone the Troika visit on a political level previously scheduled to take place before the end of October 2003."

Euro-Burma Office

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e-mail: burma@euro-burma.be