September 20: Brussels: Foreign ministers of European Union member countries decided Monday to tighten the EU’s sanctions against Myanmar unless Yangon improves its human rights situation before an Asia-Europe summit in Hanoi on Oct. 8-9.

The punitive measures under consideration include a ban on visas for senior Myanmar officials and their families and the prohibition of loans to companies based in EU member countries but owned by Myanmar concerns.

EU officials have said that the European Union has allowed Myanmar to take part in the summit on condition that Yangon’s junta does not send Prime Minister Gen. Khin Nyunt but a lower-level official such as its foreign minister.

EU foreign ministers agreed earlier this month to accept Myanmar as a participant in the summit while deciding to slap the fresh sanctions on Myanmar to press for democratization.

They decided to impose the new sanctions Oct. 8, demanding democratization and the release from continued confinement of pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Asia-Europe Meeting summit had been on the brink of being called off due to an impasse between the EU and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations over Myanmar’s participation at the forum.