EU official sees Burma roadmap within a year

Burma is likely to come up with a comprehensive plan charting its political and economic reforms within a year, a move that should boost the confidence of the international community, a high-ranking European Union official said on Tuesday.

Andris Piebalgs, EU commissioner for development, said the situation in Burma continues to evolve and holding free and credible by-elections in April would be crucial to maintaining the optimistic response that the government has met for opening up the economy and improving its political environment.

"I believe the political issues, the by-elections and the peace process are very crucial because you need political conviction [to pave the way] for a comprehensive plan. I believe that during the year, the government will be able to prepare some type of plan and, if the political conditions are right, I believe donors could go through this development plan sooner rather than later," Piebalgs told a press briefing.

"The government should be encouraged to continue with the reforms necessary for rule of law, for democratisation. But it is an ongoing process that gives a lot of optimism."

Piebalgs concluded his three-day visit to Rangoon and Naypyidaw on Tuesday night and had stopped over in Bangkok en route to Brussels. During his visit, Piebalgs met with Burmese President Thein Sein and de facto opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss a wide range of issues including the peace agreement with ethnic groups, a 150-million euro (Bt6 billion) development package for the next two years and the upcoming elections.

"As the situation continues to evolve, I hope we will be more engaged," he said. "We are very much looking forward to developments. We believe there is a lot to be done to alleviate poverty and also to change the country, but it requires that reforms the president [Thein Sein] has embarked upon be continued." Piebalgs noted that though it would take time for reforms to be fully implemented, Burma was indeed heading "very clearly in one direction" and added that he hoped this would continue.

The EU is set to review the sanctions it has imposed on Burma in late April. Piebalgs confirmed the position that the EU and the United States have taken - free and credible elections is a pre-condition to lifting the sanctions.

"I can’t predict when exactly the restrictions will be lifted but I understand that we need to encourage the president [Thein Sein] to continue the reforms. But these reforms should be done on a very credible basis and on a basis that won’t jeopardise the credibility of the EU decision-makers."