§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a date has yet been set for a debate in the United Nations on the resolution on Burma which was co-sponsored by the United Kingdom last November; and what the motion includes on trade sanctions.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe resolution is expected to be reconsidered in the course of debate at the 46th United National General Assembly in New York this autumn. The General Assembly works through a pre-set agenda rather than setting precise dates for each debate. The resolution does not refer to trade sanctions.
§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the European Community has taken in response to the violation of human and political rights in Burma.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe EC suspended all bilateral aid to Burma in 1988. EC countries also refrain from selling military equipment to Burma, and are discussing our proposal for a formal embargo.
Frequent representations have been made to the Burmese: this year EC statements were issued on 4 January and 27 May, and the joint declaration from the EC-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in Luxembourg on 30–31 May included a reference to Burma.