ASEAN to stick to its guns on Myanmar's entry into ASEM
ASEAN to stick to its guns on Myanmar's entry into ASEM
Agencies, Manila/Phnom Penh
Southeast Asian countries will insist on Myanmar's participation in an upcoming Asia-Europe summit, despite threats from European Union (EU) leaders to boycott the event if representatives from Yangon show up, a Philippine official said on Tuesday.
The 25-member EU has opposed any inclusion of Myanmar, also known as Burma, at the October summit due to the country's poor human rights record, and the continued detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Myanmar's military government detained Suu Kyi in May 2003 and she remains under house arrest. The EU has demanded her release.
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) wants Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos accepted into the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), to be held from Oct. 8 to Oct. 9 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
"We maintain the same position that the three will also be accepted," Philippine Foreign Secretary Delia Albert told reporters.
The EU has indicated it has no objection to the inclusion of Cambodia and Laos into ASEM.
ASEAN nations have countered the boycott threat, saying they will block participation by the 10 newest EU member countries unless Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia are all granted ASEM membership.
In Phnom Penh, Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Khin Nyunt remained tight-lipped over the festering row after completing a two-day visit of Asian allies here Tuesday.
Following his visits to Laos and Vietnam on Monday, the premier called on his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen but left for home saying only their talks had been useful, AFP reported.
"We had a very fruitful discussion, like a brother ... No more interview. This is a good visit," Khin Nyunt told reporters shortly before heading to the airport.
Hun Sen spokesman Eang Sophalleth said the two leaders did not discuss Suu Kyi's detention or a simmering diplomatic spat between Asia and Europe over the former Burma's accession to the ASEM forum in October.
"The two prime ministers met for about half an hour. They did not talk about either ASEM or human rights records," Sophalleth was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Cambodia has already lent its unwavering support to Myanmar by insisting it will boycott the summit if the junta, which has ruled the nation since a 1962 coup, is not allowed to join in discussions.
It gave Khin Nyunt the red carpet treatment on Tuesday as he was greeted by hundreds of cheering and flag-waving children with diplomats from Southeast Asia and the European Union looking on.
Myanmar's junta enjoys a large measure of tolerance from its fellow ASEAN governments, who strictly observe a much-criticized ban against interference in other member nations' affairs.
In June the EU scrapped talks with Asian finance ministers because of their insistence that Myanmar take part in the October meeting.