Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-10-04-Speech-3-299"
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"en.20001004.11.3-299"2
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". – As the honourable Member knows, we have taken a number of tough measures in relation to the regime covering issues like visas and assets. There is a serious argument about whether one should go further. Speaking for myself, though I have always wanted to go to Burma and particularly to see Bagan, I would not dream of going to Burma in the present circumstances and I would advise other people similarly.
When it comes to the overall question of trade and investment, I will be absolutely candid with the honourable Member about my assessment and about my concern. My assessment is that the main reason why there is not more investment in Burma is the policies pursued by the regime there. So long as a regime like that is behaving in that way, it would be extraordinary if anybody was to think that it made much sense to invest there.
My other problem, whenever I think about or talk about sanctions, is a concern about how smart sanctions ever are in practice. The living conditions of people in Burma, thanks to the appalling government under which they suffer, are bad enough as it is and I would not like to do anything that made those living conditions worse. So I am reluctant to go further on trade or to advise further action on trade or investment.
As for further declaratory political action, I am always prepared to consider the case for that. This is where the whole question of whether or not it is worth engaging in a dialogue is one that has to think about very carefully. For example, if we were to send a commission still to Rangoon we would only conceivably consider doing so if there was a guarantee that a delegation could meet with Aung San Suu Kyi, if there was a guarantee that it could meet with her party colleagues, if there was a guarantee that it could also meet with the ethnic minority leaders. In those circumstances it may well be that a mission would be justifiable. One has to discuss issues like this with the balance of advantage very much in mind as to whether or not it really is going to provide some discernible positive effect if one connects with people who pursue policies which most of the rest of the world regards as being appalling.
One last point. I think it is very important that the ASEAN countries themselves put pressure on Burma. Burma is exporting instability to the rest of the region, it is exporting drugs, it is exporting HIV/Aids, and I hope the rest of the region will do what it can to change policies in Rangoon."@en1
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