The European Union on Monday welcomed progress made in Burma’s efforts to achieve national reconciliation, but also invited the country’s government to pursue durable solutions to the issue of communal violence in Arakan State. In a statement, the EU Foreign Affairs Council called on the government to “address the underlying causes of inter-communal violence and to guarantee the respect of human rights and the rule of law,” including by addressing the status and welfare needs of the Rohingya Muslim minority. “In order to contribute to peace-building and respect between the communities, the EU strongly encourages development initiatives and the promotion of religious and ethnic tolerance,” said the statement.