EU-ASEAN summit hit by Burma row

Date: 25/03/1999

By Gareth Harding

A high-level summit between the EU and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been postponed for the third time in a row because of concerns over Burma's abysmal human rights record.

The decision has further soured ties between the two blocs, which have been deteriorating since Rangoon joined the nine-member ASEAN club two years ago. "EU-ASEAN relations have never been worse than they are now," said Lotte Leicht of the Brussels-based Human Rights Watch.

Officially, the meeting which was planned for next Monday (29 March) has been cancelled because the Union refuses to grant visas to members of the Burmese junta and ASEAN insists it will only turn up as a bloc. But the move also masks splits in both the Union and between Asian countries over how to deal with the military regime in Rangoon.

EU member states are divided between those - such as the UK, Denmark and the Netherlands - which refuse to sit at the same table as Burma and southern European countries favouring a less hard-line stance.

Most ASEAN countries are also frustrated at seeing relations with the EU held hostage by Burma's behaviour and are stepping up their efforts to push the regime towards reform.

European Commission officials admit that relations between the two blocs are "at an impasse" and that there is little hope of them improving in the near future without a change of government in Burma.

However, an Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM) of foreign ministers will take place as planned next Tuesday (30 March) because Burma is not a member.

The summit is expected to discuss the social and political effects of the Asian crisis and membership of the club, which acts as a forum for boosting links between the EU and ASEAN states, China, Japan and Korea.