Vol. 502 No. 6
35 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the matters discussed at his recent meeting with Dr. Sein Win, Prime Minister in exile of Burma; the steps, if any, the Government is taking to promote the restoration of democracy and human rights in Burma through dialogue between the military junta and the democratic forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8936/99]
I had a very useful meeting with Dr. Sein Win in my office on 23 March. Dr. Sein Win was accompanied at this meeting by his representative in Brussels and by two members of Burma Action Ireland whose efforts in this country to promote the cause of democracy in Burma in recent years have been most commendable.
I expressed concern about the human rights situation in Burma, and in particular the harassment to which the leader of the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, was being subjected and the difficulties that were put in the way of a visit to her in Rangoon in recent months by her husband, despite international appeals to the Burmese authorities to show compassion.
I was happy to confirm to Dr. Sein Win that the Government remained committed to support for the democratic movement in Burma. I told him I would work to ensure that the EU common position on Burma would be upheld and strengthened – even if that involved the cancellation of next week's planned EU-ASEAN Ministerial meeting in Berlin. I also indicated we would support strongly-worded resolutions on Burma at the United Nations in New York and at the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
