Ceist:
40 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, the Government is taking to promote the restoration of democracy and human rights in Burma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4370/99]
Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.
I remain deeply concerned by the human rights situation in Burma. In my statement to the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York last September, I drew attention to this issue and urged the need for international action. Of particular concern in this regard is the deplorable treatment by the military regime in Rangoon of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy.
The Government's position in relation to Burma is based on the common position adopted by the European Union in October 1996. This common position stressed the Union's profound concern at the continuing deterioration of the political situation in Burma including the restrictions imposed on fundamental rights of freedom such as speech, movement and assembly. It put in place an arms embargo together with a suspension of non-humanitarian aid or development programmes, imposed various restrictions on the military in Burma and urged the regime to restore democracy without delay and to respect human rights.
The EU common position was renewed for a further six months at the General Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on 26 October 1998. It was strengthened by a widening of the visa ban to include transit visas explicitly under the current ban and by an extension of the ban to cover Burmese authorities in the tourism sector. I have made it clear to our EU partners that Ireland supports a further strengthening and broadening of the sanctions against the Burmese regime by extending the present measures to include restrictions on trade and investment.
The question of Burmese participation in the EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting scheduled to be held in Berlin on 30 March is currently creating serious difficulties in relations between the EU and the ASEAN countries. Ireland is among those countries who hold that the EU common position ought to be upheld – even if that were to put the holding of the Foreign Ministers meeting in jeopardy.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government will continue to avail of every opportunity to work for an improvement of the human rights situation in Burma and to do all it can to assist the democratic movement in that country. The leader of the Burmese democratic government-in-exile, Dr Sein Win, is due to visit Ireland next month. I propose to have substantive discussions with him in order to determine how Ireland can be of assistance to his efforts to bring democracy to his country.