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EU ministers see no EU-ASEAN talks



Subject: EU ministers see no EU-ASEAN talks with Burma yet


Thursday June 26 2:59 PM EDT 

EU ministers see no EU-ASEAN talks with Burma yet

BRUSSELS, June 26 (Reuter) - European Union foreign ministers said on
Thursday the human
rights situation in Burma was worsening and that Rangoon's membership of the
ASEAN trading
bloc did not imply it could take part in EU-Asian talks. 

ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations, will formally embrace
Burma as a member
at its next ministerial meeting in Malaysia on July 24-25. 

``The deteriorating human rights situation in Burma is a matter for serious
concern to the EU,'' a
statement issued after the ministers met in Luxembourg said. 

Ministers had confirmed the EU's commitment to the EU-ASEAN dialogue
including on human
rights and democratic principles. 

``(The Council of ministers) expects membership of ASEAN to contribute to
the promotion of
these values in Burma,'' the statement added. 

But it said ministers had reaffirmed that this membership did not
automatically mean Burma could
join ASEM, the main EU-Asia discussion forum. 

The EU, reacting to accusations of human rights abuse by the Rangoon
military government, has
cut off high-level contacts