Brussels, 09/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 5 January, the spokesman for European High Representative Catherine Ashton informed AFP that the EU would be opening a representation in Rangoon (Burma) to manage its aid programmes and play a political role. Michael Mann explained: “an agreement has been reached with the Burmese government to open an office in Rangoon. It won't be a full EU delegation or anything like that. It will just be an office responsible mainly for the management of aid programmes and so forth” but he added that it would also play a political role. This office will be by the EU representation in Thailand and will open as soon as it is feasible from an administrative point of view, explained Mann. The EU currently has a sanctions regime in force against the junta in Burma but last November promised that it was prepared to help Burma make political and economic changes. This announcement coincides with the definitive release granted by the Burma regime of the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her participation in next April's elections. The National League for Democracy (LND), co-founded by the Nobel peace prize-winner more than 20 years ago (but dissolved by the ruling junta in 2010), has been authorised as a political party under the terms of the administrative reforms undertaken over the past few months. (LC/transl.fl)