BY GORDON BROWN, PRIME MINISTER OF BRITAIN

&  NICOLAS SARKOZY, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE

Just two months ago, the world was shocked and outraged by the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations that took place in Myanmar(Burma). The images may have vanished from our screens, but we cannot and will not forget the plight of the Myanmar(Burmese) people.

A country that has the natural resources to be an economic powerhouse is instead the sick man of South-East Asia. As the result of the region advances into the digital age, Myanmar(Burma) is in danger of retreating to the dark ages.

Cut off from the outside world and denied access not only to democracy and respect for human rights, but also to proper education and basic economic rights, its society is in a state of disarray.

The huge demonstrations and protests over recent months have shown that the Myanmar(Burmese) people have been pushed beyond breaking point by the regime.

Last month, a new generation of leaders gathered in Singapore to mark an important milestone: 40 years of Asean. We welcome that celebration: Asean today represents a proud and prosperous region standing at the heart of the global economy, its voice heard and respected across the world.

Asean leaders faced the twin challenges of enshrining a Charter that commits them to respect democratic and human rights, while dealing with the ongoing crisis in Myanmar(Burma). The Myanmar(Burma) was sent a clear message: There is no going back. We agree.

It is obvious now that the country is in a downward spiral of poverty and unrest. Like the European Union, Asean has always understood that economic growth and open markets cannot be pursued in isolation: Good ecomomics are founded on good politics. But the politics of Myanmar(Burma) are poisoned and need urgently to be transformed, for the wider health of the region.

We welcome the positive and conciliatory statement issued on Nov 9 by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, holder of the Nobel Peace Prize and figurehead of the Myanmar(Burmese) opposition. She signalled her desire to begin soon a meaningful and time-bound dialogue with the Myanmar(Burma) regime. She also emphasised the need for a growing role of the United Nations in Myanmar(Burma) and underlined the need to engage with other political forces, including the country’s ethnic nationalities. These are welcome steps.

It’s high time the military regime engaged in a genuine dialogue. In this respect, it must remove restraints on Ms Suu Kyi, give unfettered access to Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the UN’s special envoy, and heed the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Mr Paul Sergio Pinheiro.

And the regime must also enter wholeheartedly into dialogue with Ms Suu Kyi and with other opposition groups and ethnic leaders.

The goal must be genuine reconciliation and politiccal transition. Nobody imagines that this process will be quick or simple. Myanmar(Burma) is a complex mixture of ethnicity, religion and culture. The process will need to be broadly-based and inclusive, taking careful account of the need to build a lasting stability that includes the country’s key political and ethnic groups.

The neighbouring countries are well placed to support and encourage such a process. And, although the military dictatorship must end, the military itself should continue to play an important role in any future government, as Ms Suu Kyi herself has acknowledged.

Faced with the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Myanmar(Burma), the international community and, in particular, the EU have already extended aid to address the needs of the most vulnerable people. The EU has also decided to reinforce existing sanctions against Myanmar in order to send a strong political message and has consequently established a new series of targeted sanctions against the military regime.

The EU also made it clear that it stand fully ready to review, amend or reinforce existing restrictive measures in the light of developments on the ground and the results of the Good Offices Mission of Prof Gambari.

We believe positive change will be best encouraged by following a carrot and stick approach: a combination of restrictive, targeted measures on the one hand and the alleviation of these measures as well as the prospect of a comprehensive economic initiative on the other. However, this move will become possible if,and only if, there is a clear signal that a genuine transformation leading to a new, democratic government of Burma(Myanmar) is under way.

The prize for Myanmar’s(Burma’s) long-suffering people and for its neighbours who have suffered too long from the problems of refugees, the narcotics trade and instability that spill across their common borders, is great indeed: a prosperous, stable Myanmar(Burma) living up to its economic potential and adding to the region’s dynamism.

But achieving that prize will require sustained engagement and real mobilisation by the international community. We will continue to stand by the Myanmar(Burmese) people as they prepare to mark 60 years of independence.

We hope that 2008 will finally bring peace and reconciliation to Myanmar(Burma).

Source: from - The Straits Times, Singapore : Review-  Wednesday, December 5 2007.