Just a few days before Minister Giulio Terzi’s visit to Myanmar (24-26 April), the Senate approved a unanimous motion presented by the senators of various parliamentary groups on democratic reforms in Myanmar, following the recent election results that confirmed the return to parliament of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
“In the context of the EU”, said Under-Secretary Staffan De Mistura expressing the government’s “convinced support” for the motion on incentives to democratic reform, “Italy will back the proposal to lift the sanctions”. The motion calls upon the government to commit to “intensifying diplomatic exchanges and political relations with Burma; to sustain the democratic process and the affirmation of rule of law, not least through the complete release of all political prisoners; to support, both at Europe and international levels, the need to suspend the sanctions and, in relation to strengthening democracy and respect for human rights, eventually lift them entirely; to promote dialogue among the various components of Burmese society in order to foster a more rapid transition toward democracy. The motion also commits the government to promote humanitarian aid and economic, social and cultural initiatives on behalf of the Burmese people.
