EU eager to develop partnership with Myanmar

Myanmar President U Thein Sein Tuesday received pledges from EU leaders on closer cooperation and economic support for his country. "The EU wants to step up cooperation and develop a partnership with the Government and people of Myanmar, focusing on three: enhancing democracy and human rights, developing economy and bringing our societies closer together," EU President Herman Van Rompuy told reporters after a meeting with U Thein Sein here today. The Myanmar leader, on his first visit to Europe, also met the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. "We want to increase our collaboration with the Government and people of Myanmar: more dialogue, more and better aid, more trade and investment and more people to people contacts," Barroso told reporters after a separate meeting with the Myanmar President. He proposed to reinstate a preferential tariffs deal with Myanmar and also to explore the possibility of a bilateral investment agreement. However, Barosso also called on U Thein Sein to improve the conditions of minorities in Myanmar. "Despite the impressive change that is underway the reforms and the transition are not completed. Significant challenges lie in the way, such as the general improvement of fundamental freedoms, especially minority rights; addressing the humanitarian situation in the Kachin and Rakhine States," said the head of the EU's executive body. Human rights organisations say the ethnic Rohingya Muslims are facing rights abuses by security forces in Myanamr, particularly in Kachin state . The Rohnga Muslims, numbering about 800,000, has been described by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. On his part, European Parliament President Schulz said he discussed with the President of Myanmar the concerns of the European Parliament about the situation in his country and the conditions of the EP to lift the sanctions on Myanmar. "Sustainable and credible democratic development is one of our major points, " said Schulz. On his part, U Thein Sein said he discussed with EU leaders the reform programme in his country and called on the EU to lift all sanctions imposed on Myanmar in the past. "We are now developing the democratic system in our country to create political stability " he told reporters and claimed that that today there is no more fighting in Myanmar and that the government has agreed a ceasefire with separatist ethnic groups.