Straffan/Brussels, 20/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - The debate on Burma's participation in "Asem" meetings made no progress whatsoever at the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the EU and of 10 Asian countries this weekend in Straffan, Ireland. In theory, the Asem summit, which will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam, in October, is to adopt a decision on membership of the Europe/Asia dialogue of the ten new Member States of the EU on the one hand, and Cambodia, Laos and Burma on the Asian side. Europeans and Asians have, however, been looking into the case of Burma for six years, which has been ruled with the iron hand of a military junta since 1988, and has been a member of Asean since 1997.
The Europeans welcomes recent signs that the junta is loosening its grip, such as the freeing of members of the opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), and the convening of a constitutional Convention for 17 May. They are, however, still asking for more, such as the end of the house arrest of NLD leader of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aung San Suu Kyi. At the beginning of the week, her party were hoping that she would be released "in the next few days".
"We take note of what has happened to date, and we look for new progress", said Council President Brian Cowen. "We want the Convention to be wide open and the restrictions on Aung San Suu Kyi to be lifted", he said. The United Kingdom and the Netherlands still insist that political criteria should be respected before Burma is invited to Asem.
The Asian countries, however, refute these conditions. "We in Asia believe that the three countries (Laos, Cambodia, Burma) should be allowed in at the same time", said Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai. "Imposing a decision from the outside is not the answer", said Japanese Minister Hitoshi Tanaka. "Progress is being made at the moment in the reconciliation process, and foreigners should encourage this", said Chinese Minister Li Zhaoxing.
The European diplomats voiced their hopes that progress can be made before the meeting of Asem Finance Ministers in Rotterdam in July.