Asean talks restart despite Burma strains

Date: 22/06/2000

By Shada Islam

Side-stepping three years of strains caused by differences over Burma, the Union and the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations will relaunch flagging relations when senior officials meet in Lisbon next week.

A long-awaited EU-Asean ministerial get-together, also delayed for three years, is planned for October in Laos.

Burmese representatives are expected to attend meetings as fully-fledged members of Asean, despite Union sanctions.

Formally, this is because the encounters are part of a political dialogue between the EU and Asean where they interact as regional groupings rather than under the cooperation agreement signed by the two sides in 1980, which excludes Burma.

In reality, the meetings follow an agreement between EU governments in April to adopt a 'dual track' policy towards Burma. Ministers decided then to toughen sanctions against Rangoon, including a ban on sales of military equipment which could be used for internal repression.

The tighter restrictions helped tone down British and Dutch objections to participating in any ministerial meeting with Asean members which included Burma. Union governments are also hoping to send a second mission to the country this autumn to assess human rights.

Burma's worsening economic situation and repression of pro-democracy forces will be raised in Lisbon and Laos. A number of trade and economic issues will be tackled to make up for the three-year hiaitus in relations.

The EU is hoping for rapid implementation of the work programme agreed by both sides last year and early agreement on mutual recognition of standards and customs cooperation to boost trade. "While EU-Asean relations lacked political momentum, economic cooperation also tended to lag," said one EU diplomat. "We are hoping a political kick to the relationship will spur progress on all fronts."