Sunday 10 March 2013

Myanmar, EU pledge to build lasting partnership for development

YANGON, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar and the European Union (EU) have pledged in Belgium to work and build lasting partnership for development in light of historical changes in Myanmar.


The pledge was made in a joint statement of Myanmar President U Thein Sein, President of the European Commission Jose Mannel Barroso and President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy in Brussels, part of U Thein Sein's goodwill trip to five EU countries which lasted from Feb. 25 to March 8.

The EU will work closely with Myanmar's three branches of the state as well as with the Election Commission, according to the statement which said the three presidents also welcome the wishes of the parliaments of Myanmar and the EU to strengthen their cooperation.

The EU pledged to continue to support Myanmar government's peace efforts and the Myanmar Peace Center.

The statement called for promoting human rights and the rule of law in Myanmar, saying that EU and Myanmar will establish dialogue and cooperation in the aspects to help Myanmar fulfill its commitment which includes building an independent, impartial and efficient judiciary.

The statement stressed the importance of Myanmar's acceding to international human rights agreements and to the Additional Protocol to IAEA's Comprehensive Safeguard Agreements.

To create an EU-Myanmar partnership in trade and investment, the EU has launched the process to reinstate as early as possible unhindered access to the EU market including preferential treatment under GSP/EBA, it said.

As a next step, the EU and Myanmar will explore the feasibility of a bilateral investment agreement to increase investment flow, while practicing corporate social responsibility and responsible investment.

Both sides also agreed to take concrete steps to promote and deepen business partnership and economic cooperation, signing an agreement on cooperation in crisis response between them.

To build a development partnership, the EU voiced commitment to maintaining its increased assistance.

Myanmar government also pledged commitment to protecting Myanmar's cultural heritage and will offer suitable building in Yangon's heritage conservation zone for establishment of a Europe House.

It was U Thein Sein's first foreign trip to Europe in 2013 which covered five countries of Norway, Finland, Austria, Belgium and Italy.

Relations between Myanmar and the European Union improved following the visit of President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and the successive opening of embassies in Myanmar of three European countries -- Switzerland, Norway and Denmark in November 2012.

Myanmar and the EU then signed a joint declaration at the Myanmar Peace Center (MPC) in Yangon on EU's support of Myanmar's peace process and offering of development assistance to the country, announcing making joint efforts in building domestic peace.

Opening a new chapter in bilateral relations, Myanmar is set to profit from a preferential trade arrangement with the EU following recognition by the international community of the country's recent democratic and economic reforms.

EU foreign ministers first announced in Luxembourg on April 23, 2012 suspension of most sanctions against Myanmar for a year except arms embargo.

Subsequently, EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton visited Myanmar later in the month, opened EU representative office in Yangon and brought a package of up to 150 million euro in agricultural development aid.

The European Commission in September 2012 adopted a proposal to bring Myanmar back under a preferential trade regime granting duty- free and quota-free access to the European market, beginning in 2013.

source: Xinhua
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-03/09/c_132221390.htm

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