23 April 2012 MYANMAR: EU suspends sanctions. “Free all political prisoners”. Advance reforms, says Terzi
Meeting in Luxembourg, the EU foreign ministers (Under-Secretary Marta Dassù represented Italy) decided to suspend sanctions against Myanmar for one year, with the sole exception of the weapons embargo, and now await Myanmar’s” unconditional release of the remaining political prisoners and the end to all restrictions imposed on those already freed”.
Minister Giulio Terzi, on a mission to Indonesia ahead of his visit to Myanmar, said that the suspension of the sanctions “is not irreversible, rather the reform process launched by the Burmese government is must be irreversible”.
23 April 2012 MARINES: Indonesian minister to Terzi: we intend to convey Italy’s position to India “in the appropriate manner”
Regarding the case of the Italian marines “I understand both sides. I have heard Italy’s position and hope to be able to convey it in the appropriate manner, if that can be useful to the other party involved”, India that is. This was the assertion by Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa, after meeting with his colleague Giulio Terzi.
23 April 2012 TERZI IN JAKARTA: Religious freedom a priority; Italy ready to work with Indonesia for religious co-existence
Defending religious freedom, inter-faith dialogue and religious minorities are “foreign policy priorities for Italy at all levels. We are ready to work side by side with Indonesia to encourage the religious co-existence in the region”.
Ensuring freedom of worship around the world
Opening the Italo-Indonesian conference on interfaith dialogue in Jakarta, Minister Giulio Terzi stressed that religion-based attacks “are not confined to a single religion or to a specific region in the world. It is in the interests of our collective security and stability that freedom of worship be ensured throughout the world, keeping in mind the three pillars of the United Nations: peace, development and human rights”, the minister added, who met today in Jakarta with his Indonesian colleague R.M. Marty Natalegawa. The topics on the agenda of their bilateral meeting, in addition to economic relations (the minister was accompanied by a business delegation), included the struggle against terrorism and piracy.
20 April 2012 – Terzi in Asia: New markets and investment in Italy. Visit to Myanmar – support for the democratic process
Minister Giulio Terzi is returning to Asia to reiterate Italy’s “pivotal” role in Southeast Asia and with the commitment to open new markets for Italian businesses. He also aims to attract new investments to Italy from the region. After his recent visits to India, Singapore and Vietnam, Terzi will now be visiting Indonesia, Burma and Brunei from 23-28 April, accompanied by a delegation of major Italian companies.
Indonesia, the world’s leading Islamic community
The first stop in Terzi’s tour will be Jakarta, where he will have a series of bilateral meetings. “Indonesia, the world’s leading Islamic community, is highly important on the political level too”, explained Giuseppe Manzo, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Manzo announced that Terzi will be attending the international Conference on Inter-Faith Dialogue with the Community of Sant’Egidio. “A topic that is close to our hearts, and to which Terzi is strongly committed”.
Myanmar
From 24 to 26 April, the Foreign Minister will be in Myanmar-Burma, for what has been described as a “keenly awaited” visit. He will be accompanied by the former EU Envoy, and current Mayor of Turin, Piero Fassino. Terzi will be arriving in the country the day after the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, which takes place in Brussels on 23 April. The meeting is expected to produce decisions on the sanctions against Myanmar in light of the more moderate line taken by the government recently. Italy has been very active in promoting a relaxation of the sanctions in recognition of the steps taken in the democratic process.
The EU Foreign Ministers should give the green light to an “agreement in principle” on the suspension of all the sanctions imposed on the military regime, with the sole exception of the arms embargo. The agreement comes just days after the USA’s announcement on the partial revocation of the restrictive measures against Myanmar. The Australians too have recently decided to suspend the sanctions against President Thein Sein and 261 other leaders, subjected until now to travel and financial restrictions.
The European sanctions, which expire at the end of April, include a block on visas and assets for 491 individuals linked to the old junta, and against 59 companies and organisations. At least 800 companies, concentrated in the wood, gemstone and mining sectors, have also been subjected to trade restrictions.
In Myanmar too, Italian companies are interested in “access to the major tenders in the pipeline in a country that needs to be rebuilt”, especially in the infrastructure and energy sectors. The visit follows closely on a meeting a few weeks ago, in Rome, with the Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister, Myo Mynt, who described his government’s intention to create a favourable environment for inward investment.
EU-Asean
The last leg of Terzi’s mission will be to Brunei, where he will be taking part in the EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting. The ASEAN is “a highly important political but also economic body that represents a market of 600 million people for Italian businesses”, said Manzo, who referred also to the Asean Awareness Forum held in the Foreign Ministry in Rome on 22 March 2012.