EU urged to support Burma

http://www.bangkokpost.com/261008_News/26Oct2008_news02.php

ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT


BEIJING : Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat called on Europe to support Burma in economic, social and human resources development, claiming that is a better way of improving democracy in the country than economic sanctions.


Mr Somchai said members of the Asean-Europe Meeting (Asem) should look to the future and use the meeting in a constructive manner to benefit the Burmese people.


"I feel that political progress needs to occur in tandem with economic, social and human resources development. Support for development in these areas will contribute to democratic development," Mr Somchai said.


He added that he did not believe in economic sanctions against Burma.


"They rarely work," he said.


The prime minister said he understood that the European Union could not drop its sanctions because of domestic political reasons. "I welcome the increased emphasis of the EU on extending help to the people of Myanmar in the areas of humanitarian assistance, public health, agriculture and human resources development, especially after Cyclone Nargis."


Nargis, according to Mr Somchai, was a blessing in disguise.


It provided a rare opportunity for the international community to demonstrate its sincerity in providing assistance to Burma.



Asem leaders released a statement after their meeting yesterday, praising the role the UN secretary-general played in the relief operations to help Burma after it was hit by Nargis.


They also acknowledged the progress achieved in relief work by the Tripartite Core Group (TCG), comprising Burma, the UN and Asean.


They said the UN and Asean should continue to play a constructive role in coordinating the ongoing relief and recovery efforts in southern Burma.


The Asem leaders encouraged Burma to engage all stakeholders in the political process to achieve national reconciliation and economic and social development.


They called for the lifting of restrictions placed on political parties and the early release of those in detention.


Meanwhile, Thailand reassured the Asem summit yesterday that Asean, under its chair, was taking lessons from the European Community to be more people-centred.


During a working lunch yesterday the Thai leader said he would push for the integration of the Asean community by 2015, making it a more rule-based and effective organisation.


As chairman of Asean since July, Thailand aims to help establish the bodies specified in the Asean Charter, particularly the Asean Human Rights Body, by the end of next year. Thailand, Mr Somchai said, was looking forward to making Asean more people-centred.