Philippine groups slam Myanmar

Philippine groups slam Myanmar

MANILA (AFP): Philippine rights groups slammed Myanmar's junta on Monday for its "diplomatic offensive" to gather support for its inclusion in a dialogue between ASEAN and the European Union this month.

Myanmar Foreign Minister Win Aung arrived here on Sunday for a three-day visit to rally support for the European Union to recognize the military junta, called the State Peace and Development Council.

In a meeting with Philippine Foreign Minister Domingo Siazon late Sunday, the Myanmar official stressed that the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) "won't be complete without a member".

The EU has opposed Myanmar's inclusion in a scheduled meeting of ASEAN and European foreign ministers in Germany on March 30.