The European Union has lifted the last of its trade, economic and individual sanctions against Myanmar in response to its political reform programme.
The sanctions were temporarily lifted last year, and opposition leader and UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said Myanmar’s progress was such the move could become permanent.
An EU statement, approved without a vote and issued at a foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg, said: “In response to the changes that have taken place and in the expectation that they will continue, the Council (of ministers) has decide to lift all sanctions with the exception of the embargo on arms.”
An EU foreign ministers’ meeting said an arms embargo would stay in place.
It warned Burma needed to address “significant challenges”, particular regarding its minority Muslims.
Human rights groups say the lifting of sanctions reduces the leverage the EU has on Burma, with Human Rights Watch’s Asia head Phil Robertson describing the move as “premature and regrettable”.
Source: bdnews24
