Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin has said the European Union should support Myanmar in successfully implementing the five-point roadmap and reinstating democracy.

The minister made the remark during the ASEAN-European Union Ministerial Meeting held via video conference at August 6, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

The meeting was co-chaired by Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, and Joseph Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The meeting reviewed the ASEAN-EU cooperation and exchanged views on regional and international issues.

In his discussion of the regional and international issues, Union Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin underscored several points related to the appointment of the special envoy of the ASEAN Chair. He commented that any support EU or any countries would be providing must compliment the five-point consensus of ASEAN and the five-point roadmap of Myanmar.  But, anything beyond them would not help the special envoy nor Myanmar, he warned. 

He also explained that Myanmar would not support the idea of engaging with CPRH and NUG since the Anti-Terrorism Central Committee on 8 May 2021 had declared them and their subordinates as terrorist groups, including non-state actors as stated in the EU’s spokesperson statement on the appointment of the special envoy because it would be a breach of the five-point consensus of the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting.

The minister added that EU’s interpretation of a “meaningful political dialogue” should not include non-state actors and unlawful associations which have been declared as the terrorist group because it would not bring peaceful resolution. He also expressed his hope that EU would continue to support Myanmar so that Myanmar could complete the five-point roadmap successfully and reinstate democracy in Myanmar. On humanitarian assistance, he reaffirmed that Myanmar would cooperate with AHA Centre in its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance related to COVID-19.

The union minister stressed the importance for ASEAN and EU to engage and exchange views on future plans and hoped that the Summit in Brussels to commemorate the 45th anniversary of ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations would chart a new chapter with broad, varied and constructive agenda to promote shared prosperity through inclusive economic growth, trade and investment, including on the implementation of the IAI Work Plan IV, inclusively. He also extended appreciation for EU’s contribution to combat the spread of Covid-19 and mitigate its impact in ASEAN.

He also stated that country specific issues should not be mentioned in the ASEAN common statement delivered by country coordinator and that it should be avoided in the future. Since developments in Myanmar still appeared in the ASEAN common statement under paragraph 27, Myanmar had disassociated itself from the paragraph 27 of the ASEAN common statement, he added.