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".