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.