ASEAN, EU ministers call on Myanmar to grant access to UN envoy

March 10 (AFP) - Southeast Asian and European foreign ministers renewed pressure on Myanmar's military junta over democratic reform Thursday, urging it to grant access to a UN envoy and release democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

A joint statement issued here following a one-day European Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit said that progress was being made by Yangon, but efforts should be open to wider scrutiny.

"The ministers called on Myanmar to grant access to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and to continue effective cooperation with all UN agencies," the statement said.

The statement "noted" a national convention had reconvened in February with the aim of drafting a constitution to be voted on as part of democratic reforms. It said there were "strong hopes for concrete results".

The ministers stressed the need for constructive involvement of all political and ethnic groups in the country, reiterating "the need for the early lifting of all restrictions" on them.

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said the European Union specifically asked Myanmar to release Aung San Suu Kyi.

"We asked, from the European side, for the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi," he said.

He said the European Union believed ASEAN members could play a major role in propelling Myanmar towards democracy