Brussels, 30/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Saturday 28 April, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton inaugurated the EU's office in Burma. She explained: “You will see our office as a symbol of the European Union, its 27 member states, its institutions that demonstrate the commitment of the EU to this country and to the political process that is now underway.” The head of the office is Andreas List. One of his priorities will be to “channel” EU support, to ensure that the money reaches the people and that assistance to the country helps strengthen its administrative capacity.
During the inauguration of the office, her meetings with regime opponent, Aung San Suu Kyi, and members of the government, Ashton pointed out that change would take time and would be difficult. She emphasised that many things will need to be done and developed, and the political process will need to be looked at. She also said that everything had to be tackled and some things would be more difficult than others. She said that these changes were important, in order for the Burmese people to have confidence in their future, and she hoped that the process that has begun will be irreversible, an adjective used by the Burmese government itself.
EU assistance. Ashton also explained that the EU wanted to provide as much support as it could. She said that they were providing long-term aid and that although short-term initiatives were very important, it would be the long-term development programmes that would really make the difference.
The EU could, for example, focus on rural communities and agriculture, which represented a significant section of the Burmese economy. She said that they would find a lot of potential in the cities but the rural communities particularly needed EU aid. The EU high representative explained that President Thein Sein intended to reduce poverty in keeping with the Millennium Development Goals over the next two years and also wanted to develop education, health and small companies. Investment by European companies would also be encouraged. Ashton explained that one of the key elements was to ensure the strengthening of administrative capability so that the administration was able to manage the country's resources. She also underlined the importance of human rights, particularly the situation regarding political prisoners.
Ashton explained that the EU was wishing the country as much success as possible and that she hoped that the EU would be a good friend and ally in the progress made.
The high representative also met the president of the parliament, who expressed his wish to work with Aung Sang Suu Kyi in all areas, including constitutional change. (CG/transl.l)