The European Union sought today to avert a dispute with Asian nations, which insist that military-ruled Myanmar be allowed to join their dialogue forum despite its political and human rights record.
Asian nations say Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar should be admitted to the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) when the EU brings its ten new member states into the grouping after May 1st.
But Britain has led calls to reject Myanmar because of the junta's crackdown on political opponents, and in particular the house arrest of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. A minority of EU states, including France, is leaning the other way.
"The Asians are holding a gun to Europe's head, but the British argument is that we need to stand by our principles," said one diplomat at a meeting of EU foreign ministers Tullamore, Co Offaly.
The ministers were due to start two-day talks with their counterparts from ten Asian countries this evening, which meant they were under pressure to come up with a common position on ASEM's enlargement.
Earlier today Yangon allowed Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) to reopen its headquarters nearly a year after it was closed. The military, in power since 1962, has also promised fresh talks on a new constitution.
Many in the international community regard the NLD - which won Myanmar's last election in 1990 but was never allowed to rule - as the legitimate government.
The EU has an arms embargo on Myanmar and targets key junta officials through an asset freeze and travel visa ban.