Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-04-17-Speech-2-149-000"
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"en.20120417.17.2-149-000"2
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"Mr President, I would like to give my warm thanks to Baroness Ashton for her forward-looking programme and for her readiness to open an office in Yangon or in the new capital. We formed part of a delegation from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which visited Aung San Suu Kyi, the President and many members of the government. It was clear to us that it was the President who was responsible for initiating the reform process and not the sanctions. Therefore, we must support what he and what the leader of the opposition are doing.
The release of prisoners is an important move and this must continue. The reform of the constitution must not come to an end with the by-elections. There is much to be done and we know that a reform process of this kind will not happen overnight. It takes time. Even in a much simpler situation, such as that of the German Democratic Republic, which was previously a Communist dictatorship and which was reunified with the Federal Republic of Germany, the process lasted decades. Therefore, we must give it our support.
Burma is one of the richest countries in the world, but a small group of members of the military have exploited its wealth. Its population is currently one of the poorest in the world. This is partly because the sanctions, in particular, in the financial sector, have allowed the military leadership to put the billions earned from oil, gas and raw materials into the national budget at the old exchange rate of 1:6, while the actual rate with the US dollar is 1:800. In addition, less than 1% of the revenue has benefited the population and the rest has gone into the pockets of the military. This is where we must start. If we support this process and help to combat poverty, fill the gaps in the education system and develop the country’s infrastructure, and if we lift the sanctions gradually or for a specific period, we will be able to actively encourage Burma’s progress along the road to a genuine democracy. I hope that we and the Burmese people are successful. The ASEAN delegation will provide critical but positive support for this process."@en1
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