Sri Lanka and Burma top of the agenda in Brussels

18 May 2009

Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, joined other EU foreign ministers in Brussels to discuss the crisis in Sri Lanka and the ongoing house arrest and 'show trial' of Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma.

Copyright The Council of the European Union

Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, joined other EU foreign ministers in Brussels for the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting. The main items on the agenda were the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka and the trial of Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The foreign ministers said they were 'appalled by the loss of innocent civilian lives' as a result of the conflict in Sri Lanka and called on the Government and the LTTE to 'take all necessary steps to prevent further loss of life'.

Read the full conclusions on Sri Lanka

Speaking about Sri Lanka ahead of the meeting, David Miliband said:

"People all over Europe will be very concerned about the situation in Sri Lanka. There are two aspects that are of particular importance. First of all there's the humanitarian situation for those unknown numbers who are still trapped in the conflict zone, as well as those displaced persons who are in refugee camps.

Secondly there's obviously a crying need for an inclusive political settlement. The tens of thousands of innocent Tamil civilians want to be Sri Lankan citizens of equal rights and equal value and we look forward to the Presidential address that apparently is to take place in the Sri Lankan Parliament tomorrow which will obviously mark what seems to be the end of the military conflict, but also needs to mark very strongly the start of political renewal in which all of Sri Lanka's citizens have equal rights."

The foreign ministers also condemned the 'show trial' of Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi which is due to start on 18 May.

Commenting on Burma on his arrival in Brussels, David Miliband said:

"The house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi is bad enough, but for her to be put on show trial just adds to the pain... The regime should be under no illusions about the isolation it brings upon itself through its actions."