Myanmar to attend meeting in Jakarta

Myanmar to attend meeting in Jakarta

YANGON (AFP): Myanmar's military leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe
will attend the informal meeting of ASEAN heads of government to
be held in Jakarta on Nov. 30, the state press reported
yesterday.

A short official statement on the front page of the English
language edition of the New Light of Myanmar said he would attend
the meeting of ASEAN leaders at the invitation of President
Soeharto of Indonesia.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as full members, while Myanmar,
Cambodia and Laos have attained observer status within the
grouping.

All three observer nations have applied for full membership.

Earlier this month, ASEAN secretary-general Ajit Singh visited
Myanmar to observe its preparations for full membership, and
described Myanmar as more ready than either Cambodia or Laos.