BURMA HIT
Brussels, Apr 11 (EFE) .- The high representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, assured this Sunday that the geopolitical rivalry between powers such as China or Russia hinders the return of democracy to Burma (Myanmar) .
“We are carrying out a strong diplomatic initiative in close coordination with like-minded partners. However, the geopolitical rivalry in Myanmar makes it difficult to find common ground, stop the violence and guarantee a return to democracy, ”states an article posted on his blog.
The former Spanish minister stressed that even in the face of the “brutality” of the Burmese army against protesters calling for the restoration of democracy, geopolitics “divides the international community and hinders a coordinated response.”
In that sense, he recalled that Burma has borders with China and India and that its location makes it a “strategic point” for the so-called New Silk Road, an infrastructure project promoted by Beijing to promote its economic and commercial relations with the rest of Asia, Europe and Africa. In fact, Borrell pointed out that Burma offers access to the Indian Ocean.
Furthermore, it is relevant to the corridor from India to the South China Sea.
The head of community diplomacy added that Japan, South Korea and Singapore “also have strong economic interests in Myanmar,” while Russia is “the country’s second largest arms supplier, after China.”
“It is therefore not a surprise that Russia and China are blocking attempts by the UN Security Council, for example, to impose an arms embargo. China is interested in protecting its strategic interests in the country and has called the coup ‘a major reorganization of the government’, while Russia insists that it is a purely internal affair, “he said.
He admitted that the economic presence of the Twenty-seven in Myanmar is “limited”, but noted that they are becoming “a major export market for garments.”
However, the high representative considered that the EU “can and should try to play an active role.”
“We cannot accept that a democratically elected government is overthrown and replaced by a military government,” he said.
He noted that Brussels could also “strengthen” the diplomatic channel by offering more economic ties with Burma if the country returns to democracy.
He stressed that on March 22, the EU adopted a first round of sanctions against eleven individuals responsible for the coup.
“We are now working on a second package on additional people and against companies owned by the military. We want to point out to the board that their actions have consequences ”, he commented.
In any case, he pointed out that the community club only sanctions those responsible for the uprising and their business interests, while “avoiding a negative impact on the general population.”
“In parallel, we have been pursuing a robust diplomatic initiative, reaching out to all key stakeholders (ASEAN, China, Japan, India), in close coordination with our like-minded partners, notably the United States and the United Kingdom.” exposed.
Likewise, he advocated a national solution, “backed by the region and the international community in general.”
“This should start with the de-escalation and the release of the detainees,” he stressed, and declared that the sanctions in themselves “are not a policy” and that it is necessary to “create a shared diplomatic platform to launch a process of dialogue aimed at to restore democracy in Myanmar ”.
At least 82 people lost their lives as a result of the brutal crackdown by Burmese security forces against protesters in the city of Bago, a local NGO reported on Sunday.
Despite the violence of the security forces, thousands of protesters continue to express in the streets their rejection of the military command, which took power on February 1 through a coup.
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