|
|
|
|
|
|
Myanmar won't lead ASEAN Hiroaki Hayashida / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent Myanmar has told other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations it will decline to chair ASEAN, diplomatic sources said. The ASEAN chairmanship rotates annually among all members of the organization in alphabetical order. Myanmar was to assume the post under this rule in July 2006. It likely will be decided whether Yangon will be excused from chairing ASEAN at a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in the Laotian capital of Vientiane in July. Prior to an informal meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers on Cebu Island in the Philippines in April, the Myanmar government unofficially told the nine other ASEAN members that it might turn down the post, according diplomatic sources in Bangkok. During his visit to Cambodia in April, Myanmar Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Soe Win also convey the same message to Prime Minister Hun Sen, according to the sources. Yangon's intention to decline the chairmanship reflects its desire to think about the interests of ASEAN as a whole, the sources quoted the Myanmar government as saying. The Southeast Asian country also hopes to concentrate on its domestic problems, the government was cited as saying. ASEAN is currently chaired by Laos. The chairmanship will be assumed by Malaysia after the foreign ministerial conference in July. Myanmar was to follow Malaysia under ASEAN's rules in 2006. Myanmar's intention to decline the post reflects its dilemma concerning how to deal with Aung San Suu Kyi, a pro-democracy leader whom the Myanmar authorities took into custody in May 2003. She is currently under house arrest. The United States and European countries have said they will boycott ASEAN meetings chaired by Myanmar, if she is not freed. |
|
|
|
|
|
