Brussels, 20/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - Friday last, the French Presidency made the following declaration on behalf of the EU:
"At the 13th EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting (Vientiane, 11 and 12 December 2000), Mr Win Aung, the Burmese Minister for Foreign Affairs, announced in the plenary session that the European Troika was invited to go to Rangoon in January 2001. At the request of the French Presidency, he stated that the Troika would have the same opportunities as on its first mission in July 1999. The Presidency of the EU takes note of this announcement and reaffirms the Union's willingness to pursue its dialogue with all the parties concerned, as it did at the time of the Troika's first mission to Burma in July 1999. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the EU, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries members of the EEA, align themselves with this declaration."