Ireland establishes diplomatic relations with Myanmar (Burma)

The Government of Ireland and the Government of the Union of Myanmar (Burma) established diplomatic relations on a non-resident basis on 10 February. The Irish Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur, H.E. Mr Daniel Mulhall, will be accredited to Myanmar.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs said today:

" In view of Ireland ' s responsibilities during our EU Presidency, this decision of the Government to establish diplomatic relations with Myanmar will ensure that, during the Presidency, we can contribute more directly to promoting the process of democratisation and national reconciliation there. We remain concerned at the lack of progress towards this end, and at the continued detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. I welcome, and support, the call by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, that his Special Representative for Myanmar, Mr Tan Sri Ismail Razali, be allowed to return to Burma as soon as possible. "

Note for Editors:

Myanmar (Burma) has been ruled by the military in some form for nearly four decades. Free elections were held in Myanmar in 1990 and 82% of votes went to the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is a Freewoman of the City of Dublin. However, the military régime refused to recognise the result and has since used a variety of devices to defer the implementation of democratic rule. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other representatives of the NLD have endured restrictions on their rights to free movement since 1990, and in 2000, were placed under house arrest. Again in May 2003, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested, following an attack on her supporters. The government recently announced that it had lifted the restrictions surrounding her, but she has refused to accept this unless the same freedom is extended to supporters arrested with her.

To date, no progress has been made in Myanmar (Burma) towards the restoration of democracy. The Government of Myanmar (Burma) has issued a road map, but it lacks basic elements and benchmarks, such as the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, a chronological framework for the restoration of democracy and national reconciliation, and a role for ethnic minorities. It also fails to address the role the international community might play in assisting the transition to democracy.

At the same time, the régime in Myanmar (Burma) has recently made a commitment to implement their seven-step roadmap for the country's democratic transition in an "all-inclusive" manner, and that a national convention would be convened this year, and a new constitution drawn up. Ireland will continue to monitor this situation closely.

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