EU makes diplomatic initiatives to end massacre in Myanmar

Source from Anadolu Agency,  22 July 2012

EU is making diplomatic initiatives so the massacre of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar ends.

BRUSSELS 

The European Union (EU) is making diplomatic initiatives so the massacre of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar ends.

Speaking to the Anadolu Agency (AA), the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton's spokesperson, Michael Mann, said that they were closely watching the acts of violence against the Muslim minority in Myanmar.

"EU diplomats got in touch with the officials in Myanmar following a directive of Catherine Ashton. Experts from the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) were dispatched to Myanmar to determine the urgent needs of the Muslims," Mann indicated.

The EU had reduced some of its political and economic sanctions on Myanmar earlier this year after many political prisoners were released from prisons and the opposition were permitted to join elections.

The Myanmar administration wants to make use of EU's tariff-free import procedures applied to poor countries.

The EU had placed the issue of tariff-free imports on its agenda after Myanmar assured the International Labor Organization (ILO) that it would end forced labor in the country in 2015.

Most of the people subject to forced labor in Myanmar are Muslims.