Following the escalation of violence by the Myanmar military against peaceful protesters over the weekend, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, initiated a phone call with the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi. The call took place the day ahead of an informal ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting.

The High Representative/Vice-President repeated the EU’s condemnation of the coup and the military’s violent repression of Myanmar citizens, and stressed that the EU supports ASEAN countries’ and ASEAN’s efforts to de-escalate the situation and to facilitate dialogue.

They discussed the latest developments in Myanmar. The High Representative/Vice-President stressed the importance of using opportunities such as the meeting among ASEAN Foreign Ministers on 2 March to pass messages to the Myanmar military to bring an immediate end to violence, allow the UN Special Envoy full access on the ground and to engage immediately in a dialogue.

Josep Borrell briefed Minister Marsudi on the EU’s overall response to the coup, which includes: ongoing work to sanction the Myanmar military and their economic interests, while avoiding adverse effects on the population; withholding financial and other assistance that would have gone to the government, while maintaining support for the Myanmar people; and comprehensive outreach to international partners.

High Representative/Vice-President Borrell and Minister Marsudi agreed to remain in close contact and to continue to work together to ensure that democracy in Myanmar prevails, in accordance with the wishes of the population.