Brussels, 30/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - On 28 April, the day before the 1996 common position on Myanmar expired, the Council adopted a new common position that took effect the same day and will expire on 29 April 2004. The new common position includes the sanctions from the previous one but the Council felt it was necessary to extend and tighten up some of the measures taken against the military regime. The scope of application of the visa ban and the freezing of assets has been extended to new people. The arms embargo is supplemented by a ban on training and providing technical assistance. The new measures have, however, been suspended until 29 October 2003, the date of a planned Troika visit. They will not be applied if, between now and the Troika visit, substantial progress is made in terms of national reconciliation, the establishment of democracy and greater respect for human rights. The common position in published in Official Journal L106 of 29 April.