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The Straits Times - Regional News



>From the Singapore Straits Times

Myanmar in Asem: No formal Asean position yet
By Luz Baguioro in Manila

ASEAN, anticipating that Myanmar could be barred from a summit of Asian and
European nations next April, has discussed the issue for some months and
mulled over options, including a boycott, Philippine Foreign Affairs
Under-secretary Rodolfo Severino said yesterday. But Asean has yet to adopt
a formal position and its foreign ministers could discuss the matter in New
York this month when they attend the United Nations general assembly
meeting, he said.

Mr Severino, who takes over as Asean secretary-general in January, was
commenting on remarks by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir
Mohamad (left) that Asean could
boycott the second Asia-Europe meeting (Asem II) in London next April if
Myanmar was barred.

Dr Mahathir, who was, in turn, reacting to a statement by British Foreign
Secretary Robin Cook, warned that discrimination against Myanmar amounted to
"discrimination against Asean".

"You may find other countries in Asean also deciding not to attend," the New
Straits Times yesterday quoted him saying.

Mr Cook said in Singapore on Monday that Myanmar would not be allowed to
attend if its military leaders did not take steps to improve its
human-rights record and curb its drug trade.

He also noted that sanctions against the ruling junta by the European Union,
which denies visas to ministers and officials, would make it impossible for
them to attend.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman in Singapore contacted yesterday said the
ministry's understanding was that the question of Myanmar's attendance "does
not arise".

"There has been no decision taken on new membership for Asem II, which has
to be decided by consensus. Until a decision is taken, the membership of
Asem II in London will be the same as that of Asem I in Bangkok."

Asem now links Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, China and South Korea with the 15-member EU. The
first meeting last year was in Thailand.

Mr Severino said Manila felt that all countries could gain from Asem membership.

The comment echoed those made in Brussels by a spokesman for the European
Commission -- the EU's executive arm -- who yesterday dismissed Dr
Mahathir's Asean boycott threat.

Asean admitted Myanmar as a member in July along with Laos.

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry would study Dr Mahathir's comments "before
making any statement", a spokesman said. But a senior official said as far
as Jakarta was concerned, Asem comprised "individual countries and must not
be seen as being dichotomised by groupings". -- With reports from Brendan
Pereira in Kuala Lumpur and Derwin Pereira in Jakarta.
A L T S E A N - B U R M A
ALTERNATIVE ASEAN NETWORK ON BURMA
*tel: [662] 275 1811/693 4515 *fax: [662] 693 4515 *e-mail: altsean@xxxxxxxxxx
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