Finland Times

Helsinki, January 23 - Finland on Tuesday offered supports for societal improvements in Myanmar (Burma) as the once-isolated
Southeast Asian country embraced troubles with its ethnic minority groups in the past months.

“Finland is currently in the process of preparing to launch bilateral cooperation with Myanmar. Even now Finland supports the ability of minority groups to negotiate and agree on peace with the government,” Finnish Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala said after meeting Myanmar President U Thein Sein in Yangon.

Hautala is the first Finnish Minister to visit Myanmar since 1988 when both the countries cut their bilateral relations. The Minister, who also met with the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, is scheduled to visit Vietnam too.
"President U Thein Sein seems to be very committed to the reforms, but naturally the number of challenges remains huge," Minister Hautala said adding that they discussed the importance of the transparency of administration and popular participation.
“Without these, no genuine and lasting reforms can be made."

Opposition leader Suu Kyi underscored that goodwill alone was not sufficient for making reforms. She suggested a strategy for
implementation for time-bound reforms. "She pointed out that the change is about to begin, but all parties
have to learn to cooperate with each other and make compromises," Hautala said, describing her discussion with Nobel Peace Laureate leader.

Human rights, democracy, the rule of law and the status of women were part of discussion between these two influential women who have both been advocating human rights for a long time. "We were very much in agreement on the fact that a well-functioning democracy derives from the needs and expectations of citizens. It is important to ensure that the ongoing reforms really enhance the lives of ordinary people," the Minister said.