PM calls to Prime Minister Rajoy and Aung San Suu Kyi
"The Prime Minister wants European leaders to consider the EU's response to the incredible progress in Burma"
Downing St spokesperson statement on PM calls to Prime Minister Rajoy and Aung San Suu Kyi:
Ahead of meeting EU leaders at the Informal European Council in Brussels on Monday, the Prime Minister has phoned Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, and Aung San Suu Kyi, the General Secretary of the Burmese National League for Democracy.
Speaking to Mr Rajoy, the Prime Minister said he was looking forward to welcoming him to London for a bilateral meeting next month. The Prime Minister emphasised the need to focus Monday’s discussions on concrete action that the EU could take to generate growth across Europe, for example on trade and deregulation. Mr Rajoy agreed that they should focus on restoring competitiveness.
The Prime Minister also wants European leaders to consider the EU’s response to the incredible progress in Burma, following the decision by foreign ministers to lift certain EU travel bans. He phoned Aung San Su Kyi to seek her advice on this issue, specifically how the EU can incentivise the Burmese government to build on the positive steps it has taken in recent weeks and he congratulated Ms Suu Kyi on her role in securing these developments. Ms Suu Kyi made clear that there needs to be further progress to end the violence in the ethnic conflicts, and free and fair by-elections in April, but that she has trust in President Thein’s commitment to reform. Ms Suu Kyi thanked the Prime Minister for the UK’s support to Burma, including development assistance. They agreed to keep in close touch over the next few weeks.