|
EU appeals for proper talks in Myanmar ahead of convention |
||
|
BRUSSELS, Feb 16 (AFP) - The European Union called Wednesday on Myanmar's junta to use a new round of constitutional talks to achieve a true dialogue with the opposition forces of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The EU said it regretted that Thursday's planned resumption of a constitutional convention in the military-ruled country was not crafted to enable the National League for Democracy (NLD) to take part.
The 25-nation bloc called on Myanmar's generals "to renounce past hostilities and enter into a constructive dialogue with the NLD, other legitimate representative bodies and the ethnic groups".
"Only such a dialogue can lead to the drawing up of a constitution that can win the true support of the people and bring peace and development to the country," it said in a statement.
The EU said the convention "could provide an opportunity for genuine and transparent dialogue" but only if the NLD leader was freed, all party offices were reopened and all political prisoners were released.
It said it was "very concerned" about the arrest on February 9 of Hkun Htun Oo, chairman of the Shan National League for Democracy, together with other leaders of the Shan community and about "increased harassment" of other ethnic groups.
But the bloc reaffirmed that it "could respond positively to concrete signs of progress" in Myanmar if its conditions were met. |
||