Brussels, 01/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - The dialogue started between the ruling Junta and the opposition in Burma is bearer of hope, but nothing is irreversible. Thus is, in substance, the message delivered on 31 January by the representatives of the European Troika following the four day fact finding mission to Rangoon.
Arriving last Sunday in the Burmese capital, the European delegation moved to carry out the assessment of the thaw in relations between the ruling Junta and the National League for Democracy (NLD). It is thus that the Troika representatives notably met the Burmese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Wim Aung, the Junta Secretary, General Khin Nyunt, and Aung San Suu kyi, leader of the Burmese opposition under house arrest for the last four months. The delegation also met representatives from ethnic minorities, NGOs and the UN.
Following the visit, the Swedish diplomat Boerje Ljunggeren, Head of the delegation, welcomed to freeing of a certain number of members of the opposition. Raising the thawing in relations between the Junta and the opposition, he felt that contacts between the parties where still at a sensitive stage, but that the formed the most promising development seen since 1990 (date of the electoral victory of the NLD never recognised by the Junta) though not without being irreversible. On her side, Aung San Suu Jyi said she was "carefully optimist" over the prospects of the dialogue started with the Junta.
The Troika, formed of Belgian and Swedish diplomats and representative from the Council and Commission will now report to the other Member States in order for the EU to assess the future initiatives to be taken in its relations with Burma.