Brussels, 06/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - In a statement on Monday the European Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten, welcomed the lifting of restrictions that, for nineteen months now, have been affecting Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize and Sakharov Prize of the European Parliament, who, since 6 May, may leave her home, and resume her activities as leader of the opposition party., the National League for Democracy. This, says Patten, "can only be a positive step for the development of Burma/Myanmar and EU/Burma relations". He then added: "Her continuous commitment to the establishment of democracy and civilian government in Burma has been an inspiration to all of us. I hope that her release will prove to be unconditional, that she and her party are free to travel and carry out political activities throughout the country, and that her release will be swiftly followed by that of Burma's remaining political prisoners".