Europe-ASEAN talks soured by Myanmar, low turnout

Lao National Culture Hall is the venue for the 13th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting

In this story: Relations are chilly Disagreement on Myanmar RELATED STORIES, SITES

VIENTIANE, Laos (Reuters) -- The European Union and ASEAN kicked off their first ministerial talks in more than three years on Monday, with the atmosphere soured by the issue of Myanmar and the failure of senior European ministers to turn up.

Security concerns also hung over the meeting after a mysterious blast was heard in the sleepy Lao capital Vientiane on Sunday evening. Diplomats said it was not known what had caused the blast, which resulted in no damage or casualties.

Vientiane has been shaken by a series of unexplained bomb attacks this year which have killed at least one person and wounded several. Nobody has claimed responsibility.

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Foreign ministers from the Association of South East Asian Nations are attending the talks in Vientiane, but the Europeans are represented mainly by junior ministers.

The official excuse was that the crucial EU summit in Nice, which has dragged on well past its scheduled conclusion, prevented senior ministers from attending.

Relations are chilly

But the turnout also illustrated the chilly relations between the two blocs since ASEAN controversially admitted Myanmar in 1997, shortly before the region was battered by an economic crisis that also sapped its political clout.

Gerard Depayre, leader of the European Commission's delegation to the summit, insisted that the EU's level of representation was not intended as a snub to ASEAN.

"There is the unfortunate coincidence with the Nice summit...but behind the level of representation I can assure you there is no hidden motive or intention," Depayre said.

At a colourful opening ceremony, after ministers were sprinkled with petals by women in traditional dress, Lao Prime Minister Sisavat Keobounphan said in a speech that the meeting would inject new life into relations between the two blocs.

"I am convinced that this meeting will be conducted in a spirit of amity and mutual understanding, and will be made a brilliant success for the common benefits of peace and co-operation for the well-being and prosperity of our regions."

Disagreement on Myanmar

Depayre told reporters that while the EU remained deeply concerned about human rights violations in Myanmar, this should not be allowed to undermine relations with ASEAN.

The meeting in Laos marks the first ministerial talks between the two sides since Myanmar joined ASEAN.

"Regarding Myanmar, there has been no weakening of the EU position,' he said.

"On the other hand, after three years of interruption, we considered that we should not hold our very important relationship with ASEAN hostage to the situation in one country."

But Myanmar is likely to be at the top of the agenda of the meeting, officials say.

Senior officials from the two blocs met at the weekend to try to hammer out agreement on some contentious points in the communique to be issued when the meeting concludes on Tuesday.

Officials said there was some disagreement over how the communique should deal with the issues of human rights, Myanmar, the internal stability of Indonesia and the need for a new round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks.

They said the communique was likely to recognise the need for dialogue between Myanmar's military government and the opposition, and a visit to Myanmar in January by an EU troika was under discussion.

Myanmar's opposition National League for Democracy won elections in 1990 by a landslide but has never been allowed to govern. Its leader, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has been under de facto house arrest for nearly three months.

Armed Lao police were posted at intersections throughout Vientiane as the meeting got under way.

Diplomats said Sunday's blast appeared to have taken place on waste ground. It was not clear whether it was caused by a bomb.

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