EU envoy to Myanmar to visit China and tour Asian nations =
Brussels (dpa) - The European Union's envoy to Myanmar plans to
visit China next week as part of his efforts to convince Myanmar's
ruling junta to move towards "a stable democracy".
Piero Fassino, a former Italian justice minister, said Wednesday
in Brussels that China and other Asian states had a key role to play
in the region.
"China is a great political power and is playing an increasingly
essential role on the international scene. It can certainly have a
positive influence in the Myanmar issue," Fassino said.
The envoy was expected in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday and
planned to travel to India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam
after the Christmas break.
Speaking after holding talks in Brussels, the envoy said Myanmar
needed to initiate "a process of national reconciliation" and called
on the ruling regime to lift all restrictions on opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi.
In order to help Myanmar's transition towards democracy, Fassino
planned to hold talks with all the key players in Myanmar, including
government figures, opposition leaders and religious as well as civil
authorities.
A visit to Myanmar was being planned "for the coming months",
Fassino said, adding that the "most opportune moment" for making such
a visit would be decided together with his United Nations
counterpart, Ibrahim Gambari.
International pressure to force political change in Myanmar, under
military rule since 1962, gained momentum in the aftermath of a
brutal crackdown on peaceful protests led by Buddhist monks on
September 26-27.
At least 15 people died in the melee, according to official
figures. The UN's special rapporteur on human rights recently claimed
the death toll was at least double that.
dpa nr
