The Government remains gravely concerned about the deteriorating political and human rights situation in Burma.
The Deputy will be aware that I have outlined the Government's response to this situation in reply to a number of parliamentary questions, most recently in my reply to Question No. 86 of 5 February.
I would add that I participated in a lengthy and frank discussion on the situation in Burma in the course of the EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Singapore on 14 February. At this meeting the concerns of European Ministers were expressed to the ASEAN side in great detail.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government will continue to take up the situation in Burma, including the question of human rights violations there, at every appropriate opportunity.