SINGAPORE - The EU has urged south east Asian nations to pressure Burma in whatever way they choose in an effort to reform a regime widely accused of human rights abuses.
A robust exchange on how to deal with the military rulers in Burma and other human rights issues dominated two days of talks between the EU and the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
"In Europe, we feel what is happening in Burma is absolutely unacceptable in terms of violations of human rights," the Dutch Foreign Minister, Mr Hans Van Mierlo, said. Burma is due to join ASEAN - currently grouping Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - possibly as early as this year.