HL Deb 16 November 2004 vol 666 cc131-2WA
Lord Harrison

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What were the main outcomes of the Asia-Europe Meeting in Hanoi on 8 October; whether and how Burma was represented among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); and what further dialogue between the European Union and ASEAN they will encourage. [HL4766]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

At the ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Summit on 8 October the UK exchanged views with our EU and Asian ASEM partners on a wide range of issues, and issued Declarations on Closer Economic Partnership and on Dialogue among Cultures and Civilisations. These are available online at www.europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations.

My right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister, representing the UK, urged ASEM partners to discuss ways in which developing and developed countries could meet their energy needs in a sustainable way. ASEM partners agreed to pursue this. The UK, in partnership with Indonesia, also launched an initiative promoting interfaith dialogue, which received support from a number of EU and Asian ASEM partners.

Following EU and Asian ASEM countries' agreement that Burma attend the summit, but at a level no higher than Foreign Minister, the Burmese were represented by Minister for Labour, U Tin Win. In the presence of U Tin Win, the Deputy Prime Minister, together with several of our EU partners, raised the unacceptable lack of progress towards democratisation in Burma. The Deputy Prime Minister called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, the lifting of restrictions on the National League for Democracy, the start of genuine dialogue and an early visit by the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative, Razali Ismail. The UK also worked closely with EU and Asian ASEM partners to build general consensus on the inclusion of language on Burma in the ASEM chair statement, which calls for all political groups in the country to be able to participate in national reconciliation and democratisation. We believe that this sends the regime a clear signal that ASEM partners share serious concerns about the situation in Burma.

The UK fully supports greater EU-Asia dialogue, such as that within ASEM, and greater EU-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) dialogue. We see such dialogue as an important means of tackling the key challenges which the international community faces, including terrorism, proliferation, drugs and crime, climate change and energy security, and economic issues.

We will also continue to encourage ASEAN to press the Burmese regime to begin a genuine process of reform leading to national reconciliation.