TOKYO, June 24 Kyodo The European...

TOKYO, June 24 Kyodo

The European Union (EU) in succession Tuesday welcomed Japan's recent calls forward Myanmar's ruling junta to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Etienne Reuter charge d'affairs of the delegation of the European Commission in Japan, said the act upon was consistent with the EU's position forward Myanmar and that the brace sides should step up squeezing on the junta to release the Nobel Prize laureate and democratize the country

Reuter made the remark after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi urg the junta control Tuesday to release Suu Kyi, who has been in ''protective custody'' since a clash between her supporters and junta followers in northern Myanmar in succession May 30.

''Japan strike one as beings to be moving towards the same position as the EU'' Reuter said, citing the EU's demand that the junta adopt democracy and excite dialogue with opposition parties.

onward Monday, Japan's Senior Vice Foreign Minister Tetsuro Yano met in Yangon with intelligence chief Gen Khin Nyunt secretary of the ruling State Peace and progress to maturity Council, and demanded the military regulation free Suu Kyi and allow her National League for Democracy (NLD) to operate freely

During a weekend summit meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece EU leaders called in succession Myanmar to immediately release Suu Kyi as well as other NLD members and to reopen NLD offices.

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