The European Union on Monday has lifted travel bans on top Burmese politicians, including President Thein Sein in a move that acknowledges the country’s recent moves toward opening up.
The European Council, in a statement, said it “welcomes the remarkable program of political reform undertaken by” the leaders of the Southeast Asian country that for decades, was government by a repressive military junta.
It wasn’t after elections in November 2010 that the Burma (renamed Myanmar by the junta) transferred power from the military to a civilian government.
“These changes are opening up important new prospects for developing the relationship between the European Union and Burma/Myanmar,” the statement reads.
Burma’s government has allowed the opposition—in particular the National League for Democracy headed by Aung San Suu Kyi—to officially register for upcoming by-elections. It has also made reconciliation efforts with armed ethnic groups, and has released dozens of political prisoners.
Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate who was detained by Burma’s government for a total of about 15 years, will run for a vacant seat in Parliament in April.
“The EU attaches particular importance to the free and fair conduct of these elections,” the statement said.
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