§ Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to urge European Union partners to strengthen the EU common position on Burma, with particular reference to the banning of investment by EU companies in Burma. [179531]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienOur policy remains as set out in the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 21 May 2004,Official Report, columns 1356–57W. If the situation changes we will look again at our policy.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Freign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to lobby the UN Security Council for(a) a global embargo on investment in and (b) a ban on arms sales to Burma; and if he will make a statement. [179536]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe have raised our concerns about the situation in Burma with our Security Council partners. Not all of them take the same view as this country. However, binding UN sanctions can only be imposed by the UN Security Council acting under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter in response to a threat to international peace and security. There is no consensus at present to bring Burma before the Security Council.
The Government have a long standing policy to discourage trade with, or investment in Burma. The UK and other European Union countries maintain an embargo on arms to Burma as part of the EU common position on Burma.