Vol. 503 No. 4
95 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will press at the April 1999 meeting of the General Affairs Council, which is required to renew or amend the common position on Burma, for the imposition of economic sanctions, as requested by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, on the illegal and brutal regime in Rangoon to match his stated support for the democratic movement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10424/99]
The Government is very concerned at the absence of any improvement in the human rights situation in Burma and, therefore, maintains its strong support for sanctions against the Rangoon regime. The EU common position on Burma is due to expire at the end of this month and we will be seeking its renewal at the General Affairs Council to be held in Luxembourg on 26 April.
Following the strengthening of the common position last October and the cancellation of the EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting in Berlin on 30 March due to a dispute over the question of Burmese attendance, it is expected that the common position will be renewed without opposition for a further period of six months at next weeks meeting of the General Affairs Council.
The Government will also work to see how more effective pressure on Burma can be brought to bear. We will, therefore, be seeking discussions over the coming months on additional measures which could be implemented when the common position comes up for renewal once more next October.
