European Union's special envoy for Myanmar seeks Asian cooperation
- From: Chim <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:29:43 -0800 (PST)
European Union's special envoy for Myanmar seeks Asian cooperation
Posted : Tue, 29 Jan 2008 07:14:03 GMT
Bangkok - The European Union's special envoy for Myanmar on Tuesday
stressed the need for close cooperation with Asian governments in
speeding up a solution to Myanmar's political crisis. "We are open to
all common initiatives and actions, all common strategies with the
countries of Asia," said EU envoy Piero Fassino after holding talks
Tuesday morning with Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram.
Fassino has already visited Beijing to discuss the Myanmar issue, and
plans to travel to Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Japan
to solidify Asian support in what has become a fairly universal call
on the military rulers of Myanmar to speed up their political dialogue
with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other suppressed segments
of Myanmar society.
The EU appointed Fassino as special envoy for Myanmar last year in an
effort to increase pressure on the junta to bring about real politcal
change in their country in the aftermath of a brutal crackdown on
protests led by Buddhist monks that shocked the world and left at
least 31 people dead.
The crackdown reignited international concern about Myanmar, which has
been under military rule since 1962, but the growing frustration has
thus far accomplished little in terms of forcing the ruling regime
into a real political dialogue with Suu Kyi.
United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari has visited Myanmar on
several occasions, with the last visit being in November, to press for
a genuine dialogue but with limited success.
"It is necessary to open a new phase of more constructive and more
concise, a real dialogue between the junta and the opposition and all
different sectors of Myanmar society," said Fassino.
Fassino's visit to Thailand might have been better timed as the
country has just elected a new prime minister, Samak Sundaravej, and
will set up a new government by mid-February.
"We are identical in our wish," noted outgoing Thai Foreign Minister
Nutya, who added, "However, this government and its mandate will end
in ten days, and therefore this issue of long-standing concern shall
be a matter for the future government to decide."
Thailand is deemed a crucial player in the Myanmar issue, as it is the
pariah's state closest neighbour in South-East Asia and the two
countries have close economic ties.
Thailand will also take the chair of the Association of South-East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) on July 5, this year, which has been a crucial
forum for discussing the Myanmar issue.
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