Brussels, 20/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - On 18 February, the Greek Presidency adopted the following declaration, to which the candidate countries and the EFTA countries rallied:
"The EU notes with serious concern that reports of restrictions on freedom of expression and political arrests and detentions in Burma/Myanmar have increased since the Presidency Declaration of 11 October 2002. The EU calls on the Burma/Myanmar authorities to respect their promises to release all political prisoners and to immediately hold a substantial dialogue with the national league for democracy, as well as with the other political groups, with a view to proceeding to the democratic transition of the country. Of particular concern is the growing pattern of harassment and attempted intimidation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by the Burma/Myanmar authorities, supported by the Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA), as demonstrated recently in Rakhine State. In this context, the EU notes with concern the recent political arrests in the country, in particular the arrest of the Secretary General of the Shan Nationalities' League for Democracy and a number of NLD members. The EU believes such actions are aimed at dissuading supporters of the National League for Democracy and the Burmese Democratic Movement from having contact with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi while, at the same time, do not facilitate the progress towards democracy announced by the Burma/Myanmar authorities. The EU reaffirms its commitment and support for political change in Burma/Myanmar in pursuit of national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy. The EU welcomes the current visit to Rangoon by an Amnesty International delegation and hopes this will lead to a greater understanding of and respect for human rights. At the same time, the EU also reiterates its call on Senior General Than Shwe to enter urgently into a genuine and substantive dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy, the other political groups in the country and representatives of the ethnic nationalities. The EU also calls upon the Burma/Myanmar authorities to institute a programme of economic reforms with the aim of adequately addressing the economic and humanitarian needs of the people of Burma/Mynamar and to take further steps to effectively tackle the spread of HIV/AIDS. The EU will take the situation in Burma/Myanmar into close account in considering renewal of the European Union Common Position in April 2003".