HC Deb 11 May 2004 vol 421 cc203-4W
Mr. Laxton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the EU Common Position on Myanmar/Burma. [171115]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The EU is willing to support national reconciliation in Burma, leading to the restoration of democracy and respect for human rights in Burma.

The EU shares the view of a number of international partners that the best interests of the people of Burma continue to be served, in current circumstances, by a balanced approach of carefully targeted measures against those responsible for the obstruction of reform and progress, together with humanitarian support to ensure that the ordinary people a Burma do not suffer as a result of the damaging policies of their Government.

In these circumstances, the EU has decided to maintain the existing measures, as set out in the Common Position for 12 months. The EU stands ready to react proportionately to future developments in Burma, positive or negative, and will keep the situation under review.

Mr. Laxton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will press the UN for a full implementation of the resolutions that the General Assembly has passed on Myanmar/Burma. [171116]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

We welcome the recent adoption of a resolution by the UN Commission on Human Rights criticising Burma's human rights record. The British Government encourages all the appropriate bodies of the UN to help bring about national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy in Burma. We fully support the efforts of the UN Secretary General's Special Representative to Burma, Tan Sri Razali Ismail, and the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, Sergio Pinheiro, and call on Burma's military regime to co-operate fully with them.