ASEAN ministers to discuss Thai end

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

ASEAN ministers to discuss Thai end to non-interference

MANILA, July 7 -- Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) are set to discuss a Thai proposal to end the policy of
non-interference in each other's internal affairs, a Philippine official
said here Tuesday. 

Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Lauro Baja said the foreign ministers,
who will meet here later this month, will discuss Thai Foreign Minister
Surin Pitsuwan's proposal that they review their policy of
non-interference. 

Baja said discussions on internal affairs could be taken up ''if not in the
formal plenary sessions, then in the informal meetings like working
dinners.'' 

However he added that he did not expect an immediate consensus on the
issue. 

''The foreign ministers are talking among themselves. It's very possible
that this will be one of the topics among the ASEAN foreign ministers,'' he
said. 

Surin last month suggested that ASEAN members, who traditionally avoid
delving into each other's affairs, should change this policy, adding that
this would result in greater flexibility which would help ASEAN recover
some of the clout it has lost due to the Asian financial crisis. 

Baja also confirmed local newspaper reports that the Philippines was
already taking a position of ''flexible engagement'' with ASEAN member,
Myanmar, aimed at helping avoid a political upheaval in that country. 



Asked if the foreign ministers would be issuing a statement on Myanmar
during the meeting in Manila, Baja said ''it all depends if all the foreign
ministers are watching the developments in Myanmar right now.'' 



Opposition groups in Myanmar said Monday that serious social unrest was set
to erupt in that country amid rising tensions with government forces. 

ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (AFP)