Monday, September 11 2006 16:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Helsinki: European Union (EU) leaders slammed Myanmar at an Asia-Europe summit over its human rights abuses, lack of democracy and political prisoners including Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. "We regretted the lack of tangible progress," said Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen after talks with Myanmar's Foreign Minister U. Nyan Win. "Nothing has happened. We are not satisfied," said Vanhanen, whose country currently holds EU presidency. Vanhanen's tough words on Myanmar's military junta came at the end of the first day of an Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) bringing together leaders from all 25 EU countries and 13 leading Asian states. The Finnish Prime Minister said Myanmar had failed to convince European nations of any change in the military regime's hardline stance. "He did not give clear promise in areas of human rights," complained Vanhanen. In a key decision on expanding Europe's ties with Asian countries, Vanhanen said that ASEM was expanding to include India, Pakistan and Mongolia plus the secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Bulgaria and Romania are also due to become ASEM members once they join the EU in 2007 or 2008.

"This enlargement means that ASEM will strengthen its position as a forum for Europe-Asia partnership," said Vanhanen. "ASEM is the forum to have this dialogue. I really welcome India, Pakistan and ASEAN," he said. European governments have long argued that India and Pakistan should be part of ASEM to make the forum truly representative of Asia. Several Asian countries had earlier opposed the expansion, arguing that extending ASEM would make the already large grouping even more unwieldy. ASEM is currently comprised of 38 countries. Vanhanen said that Asia and Europe needed to work together to boost collective security and combat terrorism, organised crime and global health threats. "Asia and Europe stand firmly united in the support of multilateralism," said Vanhanen, adding that the UN remained at the centre of this process. Despite the statements and cooperation pledges, ASEM has little to celebrate on the 10th anniversary of its founding in 1996 in Bangkok. Political relations between Europe and Asia remain modest and under-developed. While trade is booming, Europeans remain wary of Asia's rising economic power and have slapped restrictions on sales of Chinese textiles and Chinese and Vietnamese footwear. Current Asian members include Japan, China and South Korea plus the 10 countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN): Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. In addition to the 25 EU states, the European Commission is also member of ASEM.