New Delhi
5 January 2008
The European Union (EU) is getting tired of Burma's dilatory tactics
and India must lean on the Burmese military junta to accelerate the process of national
reconciliation and to ensure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, European Commissioner
for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.
Ms Ferrero-Waldner, who met with National Security Adviser MK Narayanan in New
Delhi, wanted India to get into the act. "India and China are big neighbours. They have a
huge role to play [and we] want you to play your role," she said on the sidelines of her
address to the Indian Council of World Affairs here on Friday.
The European commissioner's remarks come ahead of a possible visit to India by United
Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy for Burma Ibrahim Gambari. He is expected
in New Delhi soon for talks with the Indian leadership on the situation in Burma. EU
Special Envoy for Burma Piero Fassino also is expected to visit India.
Ms Ferrero-Waldner sought to suggest that the international community in general and
EU in particular is impatient for results and cannot wait for ever. "I want to engage with
the people. I want to go and talk to them firmly and clearly but there [comes] a moment
when you also have to say [that] we cannot always go on talking. We have to see some
results," she said.
In an oblique reference to New Delhi's sanctions-will-not-work attitude, Ms Ferrero-
Waldner said that sanctions, or the threat of imposing them, must be on the table if India
and the world want to remain "credible" in their advocacy of human rights and
democracy. "If you want to be credible at a certain moment you also have to go for
sanctions," she insisted.
She acknowledged that New Delhi and Brussels have a "slightly differentiated approach"
to sanctions on Burma but, she asserted, "I think the goal we want to achieve is the
same." She conceded nevertheless that the international community could think of
employing the "honey and vinegar" approach, or adopt a carrot-and-stick policy, towards
the Burmese military junta.
She iterated that the EU wants to "see a process" unfold in Burma and for that to happen,
it will be willing to be as supportive as possible and complement the efforts of India and
China to bring about change in Burma. "I agree democracy cannot come overnight, that
is clear, we know that very well, but there has to be a process of national reconciliation,
a process of bringing the Opposition in and not having Aung San Suu Kyi as a prisoner of
conscience," she said.
"We have been waiting for inclusive process, national reconciliation process, for release
of Aung San Suu Kyi, for a long, long time. Unfortunately we have not seen it," she added
for good measure. "I am in steady touch with Gambari," she said, and hoped that Mr
Gambari's visit to India will yield results.
Ms Ferrero-Waldner's meeting with National Security Adviser MK Narayanan comes only
a few days after New Delhi rolled out the red carpet in honour of visiting Burmese
Minister of Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win. Mr Win paid a five-day visit from December 31 to
January 4 for talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Minister of External Affairs
Pranab Mukherjee.
The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement after Mr Win's talks here, in which it
noted with particular satisfaction the conclusion of discussions relating to the Kaladan
multi-modal transit transport project. New Delhi looked forward to an early signing and
implementation of what it called a "mutually beneficial project."
New Delhi also said that the Indian leadership discussed with Mr Win, measures to
enhance trade, especially through border trade points, and strengthen cooperation in
hydrocarbon sector. It reiterated that Burma is "a close and friendly neighbour, with
whom India shares a border of more than 1,600 kilometres."
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