The EU and the US Easing Sanctions on Burma

The United States and the European Union have said that it will follow and reward Burma’s democratic reforms, and they have been bargaining. As the new government led by President Thein Sein enacted in a series of democratic changes such as granting amnesty on some political prisoners and announcing greater press freedom, the United States, Australia, European Union including Norway, Britain have rewarded those reforms by lifting some long-standing sanctions against Burma.

During the 1990’s, the European Union and America imposed sanctions on Burma for its human rights abuses. Sanctions on Burma drove the country closer to its big superpower neighbor, China, and the Burmese government is looking forward to attract more foreign investors as analysts disclose the Burmese government’s growing exhaustion of China taking advantage of its resources. The videos show case the World Bank’s forum on Burma’s progress towards economic reforms discussing the removal of the sanctions and the humanitarian issues that still face the country.

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EU Welcomes Hungary Support for Burma Crimes Inquiry

– VOA News

The European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma has welcomed a statement of support by Hungary for a U.N. Commission of Inquiry into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma.

In a statement Monday, the EPCB said the statement of support from Hungarian Foreign Minister Janor Martonyi comes at a crucial time, as the EU is drafting the next U.N. General Assembly resolution on Burma.

The EPCB said with the public statement of support by another EU member, the EU as a whole must break its silence and include the establishment of such an inquiry in the next U.N. General Assembly resolution on Burma.

The group says Hungary has become the sixth country to publicly call for a U.N. inquiry.

The EPCB consists of some 40 European members of parliament from several countries. Among its main functions, the group encourages “European governments and the European Union to do more to support democratic transition in Burma.”