EU prepares for ASEM summit, threatens Myanmar with sanctions

Government Information Unit
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Press release 282/2004
13 September 2004





The European Union has confirmed an increase in the number of countries participating in ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) cooperation, when EU foreign ministers met in Brussels 13 September at the General Affairs and External Relations Council. But the meeting announced that it would retain the possibility of sanctions against Myanmar. Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja represented Finland at the meeting.

The Council agreed details for promoting ASEM cooperation between Europe and Asia. ASEM members are currently preparing for their summit meeting, to be held in Hanoi 8-9 October. In addition to the EU’s ten new member states, new ASEM participants are Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. The EU foreign ministers agreed to Myanmar’s attendance at the Hanoi summit but not at head of state level.

The EU is prepared to tighten its sanctions policy against Myanmar, if no progress has been made on political and human rights issues in line with conditions set by the EU last spring.

Finland has emphasised the importance of continued ASEM cooperation, and has stressed that sanctions against Myanmar must not aggravate the situation of the country’s ordinary citizens. Following the Hanoi meeting, the next ASEM summit will be held in Helsinki in autumn 2006 during Finland’s EU presidency.

Further information: Under Sectretary of State for EU Affairs Jari Luoto, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs, tel: (+358-9) 1602 2182, and Deputy Director General Ritva Koukku-Ronde, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel: +358-9 1605 5390 or +358 40 830 4868