Govt expects total lifting of EU sanctions

Agencies/Yangon

EU’s expected total lifting of all sanctions against Myanmar in recognition of its significant reform process would boost EU’s investment in the country and further promote Myanmar-EU relations, Xinhua reported.

In March this year, Myanmar President U Thein Sein paid an 11-day goodwill visit to the five European countries of Norway, Finland, Austria, Belgium and Italy. The milestone trip has brought about enhancement of bilateral ties with the EU countries.

Meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg during his European trip, Thein Sein thanked Norway for its support in Myanmar’s democratic transition, acknowledging Norway’s role in discussions with Paris Club member countries for lifting sanctions and for the resumption of low-interest loan by the World Bank and other international monetary institutions.

He proposed further co-operation for political reform, peace building, economic reform and environmental conservation.

The Norwegian prime minister pledged continued support for Myanmar’s democratic transition, economic reform, peace process and improved diplomatic ties.

Thein Sein also invited Norwegian companies to invest in Myanmar’s energy and information and technology sectors. During his journey to Finland, Thein Sein told his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki that Myanmar’s democratic reform could not be delayed nor reversed as it picks up momentum.

Niinisto expressed readiness to help Myanmar’s political and economic reform, peace making process, establishment of good governance, rule of law and human resources development and pledged a grant of 6.5mn euro to Myanmar in 2014 after Finland, which is a Paris Club member, had already written off 50% of debt that Myanmar owed.

Thein Sein then expressed his country’s desire to co-operate with Finland as a partner country in its bid for development and to join freight handling and environmental conservation in its plan of building three deep seaports.

During his trip to Austria, Thein Sein also invited Austrian investment and during his tour to Belgium, he mainly asked for the lifting of all economic sanctions and restoration of the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) for Myanmar and extension of humanitarian assistance to the country’s troubled Kachin and Rakhine states, while pledging to work towards a new and more inclusive Myanmar.