Brussels/Ventiane, 11/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The 13th ministerial meeting between the countries from South East Asia (ASEAN) and the EU opened, this Monday in Ventiane (Laos), marking the continuation of the political dialogue suspended for four years in a atmosphere burdened by the persistent disagreement over Burma and the low level of European representation (see EUROPE of 9 December, p.10).
"In the political field, certain developments (within ASEAN) concern the international community and will have to be the object of an exchange of views in the constructive and cordial spirit that characterises the relations" between the two blocks, noted Charles Josselin, French delegate Minister to cooperation when setting the tone for the first day of works dominated by political issues, including that of Burma. A long declaration from Myanmar, in fact, followed, assuring the Europeans - which recently called for the lifting "without delay" of the restrictions hitting several opponent of the Junta in Rangoon - that it was a done thing for some of them and the it is preparing to do so for some others, indicated Mr Josselin a little later, when feeling that this statements seems to concern the leader of the democratic opposition Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, under house arrest for three months.
The 14 Ministers, including some rare Europeans, and the high ranking civil servants then concentrated on other controversial issues, notably the respect for human rights in the region, the situation in Indonesia and the Timor refugees, which should also appear, in weighed terms, in the final declaration, as well as a common call in favour of a new round of multilateral trade negotiations and the acceleration of the accession process for Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia to the WTO. The joint text, which should be published following the works, this Tuesday, should also raise: the future of EU/ASEAN relations, including at the organisational level; the dismantling of non-tariff barriers to trade; the fight against poverty and drugs; cooperation for human development; the protection of the environment and health; sustainable development; energy; education; science and technology; information technology (liaison project between e-Europe and e-ASEAN); the regional integration process (the future Free Trade area between the 10, the role of regional organisations, such as the ARF, the region's stabilisation), the Korean process, etc.