EU Presidency declaration on the extension of detention of Aung San Suu Kyi

Summary: December 10, 2004: Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the extension of detention of Aung San Suu Kyi (Brussels)

The EU condemns the continued detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and regrets that although a small number of political prisoners has been released, a large number remains in detention.

The EU recalls its earlier position in this matter that, in order to improve its relations with the EU, the government of Burma/Myanmar should take the following steps:

the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners;
the participation of the NLD and other democratic parties and all ethnic groups in the National Convention, which is announced to resume in February 2005;
the resumption of the National Convention with genuine and open debate for all participants.

The EU continues to urge the government of Burma/Myanmar to grant without further delay to the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Burma/Myanmar, Tan Sri Razali Ismail, and to the UN Special Rapporteur, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, complete, free, unrestricted access to Burma/Myanmar.

The EU welcomes the findings of the ASEAN parliamentarians on Burma/Myanmar in Kuala Lumpur on 28 November 2004 and encourages the governments and parliamentarians in the ASEAN countries to keep monitoring the situation in Burma and to continue to work with the regime to promote democracy.

The Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.

* Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process

Ref: CL04-278EN
EU source: Council
UN forum:
Date: 10/12/2004

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