Controversy over involving Myanmar in the Asia-Europe Summit Meeting (ASEM) this week threatens to overshadow the summit.
Despite a European Union-imposed ban on Myanmar government officials from entering Europe, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Nyan Win will lead a delegation to the two day summit.
European Union President and Foreign Minister of Finland Erkki Tuomioja gave assurances that including Myanmar in the meetings was not an endorsement of the military government’s policies. ”This should by no means be seen as any kind of softening of the EU position,” said Tuomioja. He went on to express his disappointment in the lack of democratic reforms in Myanmar: “In this regard, there has been no progress in the country.”
Despite these assertions, a large group of human rights organizations has denounced Myanmar’s participation in the summit. “We think it is disgraceful that the European Union is allowing him to attend,” said spokesperson for the Burma Campaign UK Mark Farmaner. “There is no point in having a visa ban if you make exceptions every time a regime official wants to visit Europe.”
Myanmar’s participation in ASEM has been a point of contention in previous years as well. Last year, Holland refused to grant a visa to Myanmar’s Minister of Economic Development. The EU since decided to allow exceptions to their travel ban for international governmental meetings.
The human rights situation in Myanmar is planned to be a topic of discussion throughout the summit. Burmese democracy activists in Finland plan a demonstration on Sunday Sept 10th to condemn the junta’s participation in ASEM.
AFP: EU has not softened stance on Myanmar: presidency – 6 Sept
