EU trade, aid conditional on Myanmar respecting rights, ambassador says
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Over 700,000 members of the Rohingya ethnic minority have fled Myanmar's western Rakhine state, escaping sectarian violence between rebels and the security forces.
The European Union ambassador to Myanmar on Wednesday warned the Southeast Asian country that receiving aid from the bloc was conditional on the protection of human and social rights.
Kristian Schmidt was addressing the opening of the Myanmar-EU Economic Forum in the capital city Naypyidaw, which was also attended by Myanmar's vice president, U Myint Swe.
The two held a bilateral meet and were also due to participate in a series of panel discussions on trade and investment.
The pair discussed "friendly matters", Myanmar's Ministry of Information said, relating to aid from the European Union with regard to the Myanmar Police Force transition and "assisting in national peace".
Schmidt was more explicit in his keynote address, pointing out that receiving European assistance was conditional on "human rights and fundamental freedoms" being respected.
"We are monitoring developments in Myanmar, including the freedom of the media, the right to peaceful assembly, the peace process, respect for the rights of ethnic minorities and the situation in Rakhine State."
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Schmidt concluded that trade and investments would "suffer" if the country "starts sliding backwards on democracy, human and social rights".
Over 700,000 members of the Rohingya ethnic minority have fled Myanmar's western Rakhine state, escaping sectarian violence between rebels and the security forces.
Last month, the United Nations reported that thousands of ethnic Kachin villagers had been displaced from villages near the northern Chinese border.
"What we are seeing in Kachin State over the past few weeks is wholly unacceptable, and must stop immediately. Innocent civilians are being killed and injured, and hundreds of families are now fleeing for their lives," United Nations Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee said.
She added that there were reports that the military had carried out aerial bombings and used heavy weapons and artillery fire in civilian areas close to the border with China.