The Forum of Burmese in Europe (FBE), which    represents a net work of Burmese people across Europe and is advocating for democracy, social justice and human rights in Burma, has expressed their deep concern regarding the softening of European Union’s common position in Burma.

We, the Forum of Burmese in Europe (FBE), noted with deep concern that the European Union is trying to find a solution to the issue of participation of Burmese ministers and high-ranking military officials in the various ASEM/ARF meetings to be held in Europe in 2006 in a bid to engage the regime in human rights and democracy discussions. This issue has been addressed by the EU foreign ministers at a General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting in Brussels during a private sessions in the beginning of January 2006.

According to the existing EU Common Position, all high-ranking Burmese government and military officials are banned from travelling to Europe, so that granting exemptions from the imposed measures is certainly in breach of the EU Common Position.

The European Union, in its previous meetings in 2005, had set minimum standards in order for the EU to consider that the current National Convention convened by the ruling military regime in Burma, is democratic if

1. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and leaders of all political parties are released,
2. the National Convention procedures are modified and a time frame is established, and
3. the National League for Democracy and other elected representatives are allowed to participate freely in the National Convention.

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