EU development commissioner "fairly optimistic" about Myanmar

Feb 14, 2012, 13:28 GMT

Yangon - The European Union's development commissioner ended a visit to Myanmar on a 'fairly optimistic' note on Tuesday, but cautioned that the lifting of economic sanctions on the once pariah regime would hinge on certain conditions.

'I am fairly optimistic for the future,' said Andris Piebalgs, the EU Development Commissioner, at the end of the three-day visit.

Piebalgs met with President Thein Sein, House Speaker Shwe Mann and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during his visit, which he used to confirm the EU's pledge of a 150 million euro development aid package over the next three years and to assess the regime's reforms.

The EU is scheduled to consider lifting its economic sanctions on Myanmar in April.

'The conduct of the by-elections on April 1 and the release of political prisoners will influence the outcome,' Piebalgs said.

Shwe Mann told Piebalgs that more political prisoners may be freed. The release of all political prisoners is one condition for normalizing relations with the West.

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and members of her National League for Democracy are contesting an April 1 by-election.

The EU envoy's visit was a response to several reforms that Thein Sein has initiated since coming to power in March.

The former army general and member of the junta that ruled Myanmar for two decades has taken a progressive tack since winning the November 2010 election.

He began political dialogue with Suu Kyi and has paved the way for her party members to stand for parliament seats.

The government has also freed about 600 political prisoners, although hundreds more remain, and signed ceasefires with six ethnic minority insurgencies.

EU foreign ministers last month decided to lift visa bans on Myanmar's leaders. But sanctions remain on dozens of members of the former military regime.

The EU also bans investments in state-owned enterprises and has embargoes against arm exports to the country, as well as imports of hardwood, gems and precious metal.

The bloc is also planning to open an office in Yangon, where currently only the four biggest EU members - Germany, France, Britain and Italy - have embassies.

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