Suu Kyi tells EU she is neutral on Myanmar sanctions ( AFP ) September 10, 2002


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Suu Kyi tells EU she is neutral on Myanmar sanctions

YANGON, Sept 10 (AFP)

Myanmar's pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi told a visiting European Union delegation on Tuesday she was "neutral" towards the crippling economic sanctions imposed on her country.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) leader held more than two hours of "comprehensive talks" with the EU delegation at her party's headquarters, NLD deputies said.

Party spokesman U Lwin said the Nobel peace laureate, for years viewed as a key advocate of economic sanctions, believed it was up to outside governments and institutions to formulate their economic policy on Yangon.

"Countries do what they feel they have to do," U Lwin quoted Aung San Suu Kyi as saying."She made no comment for or against the sanctions. She has taken a neutral position in this respect," he added.

The EU's first mission to Myanmar since the ruling military junta released Aung San Suu Kyi in May from 19 months of house arrest was aimed at assessing the country's political reform.

But when asked if the EU delegation had made any significant progress, U Lwin said: "The EU has only been meeting with salesmen and not with the manager."So far, the meetings have been with low-level people. How can you consider this to be significant?"

The NLD meeting was to be followed by separate EU talks with number three in the Myanmar troika, Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, a source close to the junta said. But bad weather was preventing Khin Nyunt from returning from an excursion outside the capital and the meeting was facing cancellation.

Europe has been among the staunchest advocates of political reconciliation in military-ruled Myanmar, which is subject to crippling sanctions by Brussels and the United States.

Experts have said a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi would help the 15-nation EU assess whether a change in sanctions status should be considered and under what conditions.

The popular leader signalled a softening in her position last month when she told visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi she would no longer oppose foreign aid to the impoverished country, so long as it clearly benefitted the Myanmar people and fell within strict guidelines that ensured its transparency.

The delegates were expected to raise the issue of human rights, following allegations by Thai-based Shan ethnic groups that Myanmar's military committed systematic rape and murder.Yangon has dismissed the allegations as "preposterous accusations".

The delegation, led by Danish foreign ministry regional director Carsten Nilaus Pederson, lunched on Tuesday with diplomats from several embassies, diplomats said.But an afternoon meeting with the Japanese ambassador and other diplomats was scrapped as it conflicted with the possible talks with Khin Nyunt, they said.

The three-day visit is the fourth official EU trip to the military-ruled state since 1999.On Monday the delegation met with deputy foreign minister Khin Maung Win, representatives of various ethnic minority groups and non-government organisations.During the previous EU mission in March, the delegation pushed hard for prisoner releases, including that of Aung San Suu Kyi herself.But that visit ended on a flat note as a meeting with Khin Nyunt was cancelled.

The current delegation includes representatives from Denmark, which holds the EU revolving presidency, incoming presidency holders Greece, the European Commission, and the Council Secretariat which services the Council of Ministers.They were due to depart Yangon for Bangkok on Tuesday evening.

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