RP would take ASEAN chair if Myanmar bows out: Malaysia FM<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
The Philippines would lead the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN) in 2006 if Myanmar bows to pressure and stands
\naside, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
\"I do not think it is something very difficult or
\nimponderable. If Myanmar decides to forgo its chairmanship, ASEAN
\nhas always operated on a basis of (taking turns in alphabetical
\norder),\" he told reporters.<\/p>\n
\"It is going to happen exactly in that way,\" he said,
\nreferring to the Philippines' place immediately after Myanmar in
\nthe line-up of the 10-nation grouping.<\/p>\n
However, Syed Hamid said the succession would have to be
\napproved by ASEAN, which is currently waiting for Myanmar to
\nadvise whether it plans to insist on taking over the rotating
\nchair.<\/p>\n
\"I think by implication the next on the list should take it,
\nbut this needs to be formalized and endorsed in an ASEAN
\nmeeting,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Military-run Myanmar is scheduled to take over the ASEAN helm
\nfrom Malaysia at the end of 2006. But some members as well as
\nASEAN's western partners oppose such a role for the outcast
\nregime.<\/p>\n
Holding the ASEAN chair means Myanmar will set the group's
\nagenda and direction as well as host a series of meetings,
\nincluding a summit and a high-level security forum involving the
\nUnited States and the European Union.<\/p>\n
The United States and the EU have warned they will boycott
\nASEAN meetings if Myanmar is allowed to chair the bloc, which
\nalso includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the
\nPhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
ASEAN's members have traditionally observed a principle of
\nnon-interference in each other's affairs. But its secretary
\ngeneral Ong Keng Yong admitted last week that some members had
\nopenly been expressing opinions about the prospect of ASEAN being
\nled by Myanmar.<\/p>",
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