EU, ASEAN call for co-operation

SINGAPORE – The European Union and Southeast Asian leaders called on Thursday for enhanced economic co-operation and the release of political detainees in military-ruled Myanmar, but set no deadlines for either.

A free trade agreement between the EU and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has stumbled over issues ranging from bank secrecy laws to reform in military-ruled Myanmar, which the EU slapped sanctions against last week. A joint declaration welcomed the decision of the Myanmar government to step up dialogue with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and called for a peaceful transition to democracy, although the two blocs clashed over the effectiveness of sanctions.”We see some progress, but it is not sufficient,” Jose Socrates, acting president of the EU, told a news conference.”I disagree that the EU and ASEAN have fundamental differences over Myanmar – both want human rights and democracy – and both want to achieve that goal,” Socrates said.Nampa-ReutersA joint declaration welcomed the decision of the Myanmar government to step up dialogue with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and called for a peaceful transition to democracy, although the two blocs clashed over the effectiveness of sanctions.”We see some progress, but it is not sufficient,” Jose Socrates, acting president of the EU, told a news conference.”I disagree that the EU and ASEAN have fundamental differences over Myanmar – both want human rights and democracy – and both want to achieve that goal,” Socrates said.Nampa-Reuters