FOREIGN POLICY:THE EUROPEAN Council yesterday called "for the immediate unconditional release of [Burmese opposition leader] Aung San Suu Kyi, who has tirelessly defended universal values of freedom and democracy". Unless she is released, the summit statement said, "the credibility of the 2010 elections will be further undermined", and the leaders pledged to respond with additional targeted sanctions..
The EU renewed visa bans and an asset freeze in May for a year.
Suu Kyi yesterday spent her 64th birthday in Rangoon’s Insein jail awaiting a verdict that could see her confined for another five years for allowing unwanted intruder John Yetaw to stay in her home for two days in May.
Expressing concern about the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan, leaders welcomed the increasing dialogue between the respective governments. “The EU welcomes Pakistan’s resolve to step up counter-terrorism efforts and recognises the sacrifices which the Pakistani people and armed forces are making, notably during ongoing operations in North-West Frontier Province,” the declaration said.
The EU “underlines the importance of an immediate humanitarian response to the crisis in Swat and stands ready to provide further assistance, in order to enable displaced persons to return to their homes.”
EU leaders said they “attach the greatest importance to the holding of credible, inclusive and secure presidential and provincial elections in Afghanistan [in August] in line with international standards”. They urged the Afghan leadership to give particular emphasis to improving the rule of law and good governance and pledged to support the Afghan police service.
And the summit condemned the recent nuclear test by North Korea and welcomed the imposition by the UN of additional sanctions and called on the North Koreans “to engage in dialogue and co-operation, including the early resumption of the six-party talks”.
On illegal immigration, the leaders stressed the urgency of strengthening efforts to prevent and combat illegal immigration at the EU’s southern maritime borders to prevent future human tragedies. The leaders called for the co-ordination of voluntary measures for internal reallocation of asylum seekers in the member states and urged both the council and the European Parliament to reach agreement allowing for the rapid establishment of the European Asylum Support Office.
