Written question asked by Keith Simpson (Conservative) on Thursday, 15 October 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 October 2009. It was answered by Ivan Lewis (Labour) on Wednesday, 4 November 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Burma

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his French counterpart on EU sanctions on Burma; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed this issue with his French counterpart at a meeting on 6 July 2009 during the Anglo-French Summit.France has consistently given its support to calls for the immediate, unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi, together with all other political prisoners in Burma, and agreed that the EU should respond with additional, targeted financial and other measures when the guilty verdict was delivered in the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi on 11 August 2009.Most recently, the Foreign Secretary and the French Foreign Minister were present at the UN meeting on Burma chaired by the Secretary-General on 23 September 2009.

Secondary information