Brussels, 21/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU high representative for foreign affairs said that she was delighted on Friday 18 November with the announcement made by the National League for Democracy (NLD), the opposition party of San Suu Kyi, to register as a political party and participate in the elections in Burma. In a press release, Catherine Ashton stressed that “this is a courageous and welcome decision. Fair and transparent elections leading to a wider representation of the people in the Burmese Parliament will be a key step towards making national reconciliation a reality”. She also congratulated the government and parliament for having made amendments to the law to allow the NLD to register as a political party.
Ashton explained that the continuing positive developments in Myanmar are a source of great hope and encouragement and that she looked forward to them continuing, including a further substantial release of political prisoners. The European Union will want to accompany Myanmar on the path it is taking, both with political and economic engagement, she declared. (CG/transl.fl)