Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-09-16-Speech-4-118"
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"en.20040916.5.4-118"2
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"Mr President, the summit in Hanoi will be taking place on 8 and 9 October, and it is, of course, good to see that it is being held, because the dialogue between Asia and Europe is of major importance. There are, however, a few observations to be made in respect of the summit. Burma has already been mentioned, and I will return to it presently.
First of all, I have to say that, although holding the summit in Vietnam is naturally a showcase for the reforms achieved in that country, it nevertheless has to be noted that there is still a yawning chasm between the dream of an effective and honest trading environment and reality. I have taken a stand in this House before – in October 2001 and also a year ago – for Mr Bin Vinh Trinh in Vietnam, for example. After a long-term stay abroad, he had made investments in his home country, and these were taken away from him under false pretences. His possessions were confiscated and he was imprisoned. Tragic though this was for him and his family, above all, it sent a negative message to potential investors in Vietnam. In my view, it is time the Vietnamese Government made a gesture in this respect.
Secondly, human rights are a topic of discussion also in other countries in the region, and remain so. Thailand is a case in point. It is true that the Dutch and the Thai Governments have just signed an extradition agreement for the exchange of the Dutch prisoners who have been behind bars for a long time. This is a welcome step forward, but in the case of the prisoner, Machiel Kuijt, with which I am particularly concerned, it was agreed that he would appear before the court of cassation before 1 July. That still has not happened, and I hope that the Thai Government will deliver on its promise. Incidentally, the Commission has made a positive contribution in this area. It would be good if the Council could do the same.
Finally, Burma has been mentioned. No other Asian country is struggling with human rights and democracy as much as Burma. Moreover, its problems are historical. Naturally, the liberals propose a dialogue in principle, provided it is a dialogue in which both parties participate seriously. If not, there is no point whatsoever in sitting around the negotiating table. In my view, the other Asian countries, particularly the ASEAN countries, which are so insistent that Burma should take part in those talks, also have a responsibility to ensure finally that Burma is taking this kind of dialogue seriously."@en1
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