Ireland, the current president of the European Union, has established diplomatic relations with Burma.
Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen said in a statement Friday that the move was made to promote the process of democratization and national reconciliation in Southeast Asian nation.
Mr. Cowen said his country remains concerned about what he called "the lack of progress" towards reconciliation in Burma as well as the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Nobel peace prize winner was detained last May after a clash between her supporters and a pro-government mob. The violence also triggered a crackdown on her National League for Democracy party. She remains under house arrest at her home in Burma's capital, Rangoon.
Information for this report is provided by AFP.