A 8/12
Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, issued the following statement today:
"I warmly welcome the substantial new release of political prisoners in Burma-Myanmar. I am still evaluating the releases but note that some respected and well-known names are on the list. This is a courageous step and a further confirmation that the reform course chosen by the Government of Burma-Myanmar continues. This together with the important cease-fire agreements reached recently in the SHAN states and elsewhere takes us a further step towards a new relationship with Burma-Myanmar."