EU:EU foreign ministers have agreed to strengthen sanctions on the military dictatorship in Burma following the bloody suppression of pro-democracy protests last month.
At a meeting in Luxembourg yesterday ministers broadened a range of existing sanctions, which include visa bans and asset freezes on key government officials and generals connected to the regime. They also agreed new steps targeting the country's important extraction industries such as the timber, metals and gemstones sectors. However, a date outlining when the new sanctions would apply was not decided.
French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner said the new economic measures would not be implemented immediately and the EU may send a mission to Burma to call on the military junta to move towards reconciliation with political opponents.
British foreign secretary David Miliband also called for a carrot and stick approach when it came to dealing with the military dictatorship in Burma. "If they do that [ move towards reconciliation], there will be economic incentives and economic support for the people of Burma. If the regime refuses, then obviously there'll be further sanctions," he said.
A Swedish proposal to extend EU sanctions to include all existing investments in the south Asian state was not adopted by ministers, due in part to opposition from France. The French oil giant Total is one of a small number of big European investors that continue to trade in Burma. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said it was necessary to put further pressure on the Burmese regime to complement the efforts of UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who is attempting to create a co-ordinated approach to Burma. But he admitted the EU's imposition of sanctions often did not go far enough.
"A country like Ireland often wants the EU to go further but to get agreement around the table when some countries have trade relations with countries is not easy," he said.
Diplomats concede, however, that EU sanctions are unlikely to hurt the regime much as the union's existing trade with Burma is minimal compared with neighbouring states.
Ministers also agreed to lift temporarily visa bans on certain government officials from the central Asian state of Uzbekistan. The decision, which was criticised by human rights groups for rewarding a dictatorial regime, was made in light of some positive signals that the Uzbek regime was willing to address human rights concerns.
Ministers welcomed the beginning of a human rights dialogue with Uzbekistan, the abolition of the death penalty and the release of some human rights activists. Germany was among the strongest proponents of lifting the sanctions. Berlin argues the EU needs to pursue a central Asian strategy more aggressively because of gas and oil reserves in the region. But human rights activists from groups such as Human Rights Watch had urged the maintenance of sanctions until more progress was made.
A compromise agreed by ministers mean the visa bans will be reinstated after six months if there is no further progress on human rights issues. An arms embargo imposed on the regime will also remain in place.
French calls for the imposition of unilateral EU sanctions on Iran did not garner much support. Formal conclusions published after the meeting said the EU would consider what additional measures it might take to support the UN process.
Ministers also sanctioned the EU's proposed mission to Chad to protect refugees fleeing from Darfur, a move that will begin calls for EU states to supply more troops for the mission. France, Sweden and Ireland have all committed to send troops.