Thursday, 26 January 2012 12:49 Mizzima News
(Mizzima) – EU diplomats are talking about an aid package to Burma, perhaps reaching 150 million euro, Agence France Presses (AFP) said on Wednesday.
The aid package, aimed at health, education, agriculture and institutional capacity building, was discussed by EU foreign ministers at talks in Brussels on Monday, an anonymous source told AFP.
EU ministers agreed to the immediate lifting of travel bans on Burma leaders as a first step towards easing its sanctions.
It also called for the unconditional release of remaining political prisoners “within the next few months” and a “free and fair” April 1 election.
Observers said a key element in an aid package would probably be full access to an estimated 40,000 ethnic refugees who have fled widespread fighting and are surviving on limited aid. Along border areas. International donors have generally been denied access to the area.
In 2011, the European Commission donated over 22 million euros (US$ 30 million) for humanitarian and disaster relief activities inside Burma and refugee camps along the Thai-Burmese border.
EU sanctions target nearly a thousand firms and institutions with asset freezes and visa bans that affected almost 500 people, according to Reuters news agency. The sanctions also include an arms embargo, a prohibition on technical assistance related to the military and investment bans in the mining, timber and precious metals sectors.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Monday “quite extraordinary changes” had taken place in Burma in the last weeks and months.
Ashton said she would visit Burma in April after the elections, coordinating the visit with Aung San Suu Kyi, with the aim of offering “full support in what we hope will be a very successful transition”.
Earlier this month, the European Union said it would open a representative office in Burma to manage aid programmed and promote political dialogue.
The United States has decided to upgrade diplomatic ties with Burma as a result of its reforms and is considering lifting its sanctions if April's elections are fair and open.
The aid package, aimed at health, education, agriculture and institutional capacity building, was discussed by EU foreign ministers at talks in Brussels on Monday, an anonymous source told AFP.
EU ministers agreed to the immediate lifting of travel bans on Burma leaders as a first step towards easing its sanctions.
It also called for the unconditional release of remaining political prisoners “within the next few months” and a “free and fair” April 1 election.
Observers said a key element in an aid package would probably be full access to an estimated 40,000 ethnic refugees who have fled widespread fighting and are surviving on limited aid. Along border areas. International donors have generally been denied access to the area.
In 2011, the European Commission donated over 22 million euros (US$ 30 million) for humanitarian and disaster relief activities inside Burma and refugee camps along the Thai-Burmese border.
EU sanctions target nearly a thousand firms and institutions with asset freezes and visa bans that affected almost 500 people, according to Reuters news agency. The sanctions also include an arms embargo, a prohibition on technical assistance related to the military and investment bans in the mining, timber and precious metals sectors.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Monday “quite extraordinary changes” had taken place in Burma in the last weeks and months.
Ashton said she would visit Burma in April after the elections, coordinating the visit with Aung San Suu Kyi, with the aim of offering “full support in what we hope will be a very successful transition”.
Earlier this month, the European Union said it would open a representative office in Burma to manage aid programmed and promote political dialogue.
The United States has decided to upgrade diplomatic ties with Burma as a result of its reforms and is considering lifting its sanctions if April's elections are fair and open.
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