EU to suspend most Myanmar sanctions

The European Union will suspend its sanctions against Myanmar for one year, but will retain an embargo on arms sales, in a move that falls short of the formal lifting of restrictive measures that Naypyidaw had sought.

EU officials said the suspension, agreed by the EU's foreign ministers in Luxembourg on the 24 April 2012, was a political signal that welcomed the dramatic changes in Myanmar while also recognising that they believed more time was required for reforms to become firmly rooted.

ESO: Background information: Reintegrating Myanmar http://www.europeansources.info/record/reintegrating-myanmar/

EEAS: The EU's relations with Burma / Myanmar http://eeas.europa.eu/myanmar/index_en.htm

Council of the European Union: Press release, 23.4.12: Council conclusions on Burma/Myanmar http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/129703.pdf

European Commission: RAPID: Press Release: IP/12/439: HR/VP Catherine Ashton opens the EU office in Burma/Myanmar http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/439&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/12/292: Remarks by High Representative / Vice President Catherine Ashton following her meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/12/292&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: RAPID: Press Release: IP/12/436: Catherine Ashton visits Burma/Myanmar to open a new chapter in the relationship http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/436&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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