Suu Kyi appeals to ASEAN

Suu Kyi appeals to ASEAN

BANGKOK (Agencies): Aung San Suu Kyi urged Myanmar's neighbors on Friday to help bring restore democracy in the country, saying its problems were now the responsibility of the whole region.

The Nobel laureate made the call ahead of next week's meeting here of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Myanmar is also a member.

The junta's delegation will come face to face during the July 21 to July 29 meeting with ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) members, some of whom are highly critical of the military regime.

The European Union's Bangkok-based regional office has been told to find ways of boosting humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar, while maintaining sanctions against its ruling military regime, diplomats said on Friday.

By next week, Myanmar will become the only member of the ASEAN to be excluded from EU economic and humanitarian assistance to the region.