ASEAN to discuss ASEM

ASEAN to discuss ASEM

NASUGBU, Philippines (AFP): Senior ASEAN officials will
discuss the possibility of Myanmar attending the forthcoming
Asia-Europe Meeting in London despite European opposition, an
official said yesterday.

ASEAN secretary-general Rodolfo Severino said the ASEAN senior
officers' meeting, being held in this city outside Manila, would
discuss preparations for ASEAN ministerial meetings and summits
as well as the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) which starts in London
April 2.

Asked if the officers would look at Myanmar's possible
attendance at ASEM, Severino said "we're working on that".

However, he admitted that ASEAN members would decide to take
part in the ASEM meet individually and not as a group, leaving it
up to each country to decide what action to take.

Philippine assistant foreign secretary Juanito Jarasa said
Myanmar's participation in ASEM "will be discussed later".