VOA : ASEAN/BURMA- ROGER WILKISON M

[hlaing@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Voice of America
DATE=7/27/98

ASEAN/BURMA 
ROGER WILKISON MANILA
 

INTRO:  THE NINE-MEMBER ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS 
AND ITS TEN SO-CALLED DIALOGUE PARTNERS IN THE ASEAN REGIONAL 
FORUM HAVE ENDED A DAY OF DISCUSSIONS IN MANILA WITH STRONG 
DIFFERENCES OVER HOW TO DEAL WITH THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN 
BURMA.  V-O-A'S ROGER WILKISON REPORTS THE ASEAN COUNTRIES 
INDICATED THE BURMESE QUESTION IS ONE THAT SHOULD BE SOLVED 
INTERNALLY AND  NOT  THROUGH OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE.

TEXT:  PHILIPPINE FOREIGN SECRETARY DOMINGO SIAZON --THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE GATHERING -- INDICATED THAT MOST OF BURMA'S NEIGHBORS DO  
NOT  AGREE WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S 
ASSESSMENT THAT BURMA COULD REPRESENT A THREAT TO STABILITY IN 
THE REGION.  HE ALSO DISMISSED MS. ALBRIGHT'S EXPRESSIONS OF 
CONCERN FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF BURMESE OPPOSITION LEADER 
AUNG SAN SUU KYI.  

                   /////SIAZON ACTUALITY/////

         WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY DETERIORATION OF HER HEALTH OR HER 
         CAPACITY TO THINK.

                     /////END ACTUALITY/////

MR. SIAZON SAID THE MINISTERS HAD AN EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION ON THE 
SITUATION IN BURMA, BUT THERE WAS  NO  MENTION OF THAT DISCUSSION
IN THE MEETING'S FINAL COMMUNIQUE.  

THE PHILIPPINE FOREIGN SECRETARY SAID THE PROCESS OF NATIONAL  
RECONCILIATION WITHIN BURMA SHOULD BE DONE BY THE BURMESE 
THEMSELVES.  HE SUGGESTED THAT BURMESE LIVING ABROAD WHO WANT TO 
CHANGE THE SITUATION IN THEIR COUNTRY SHOULD RETURN HOME AND TRY 
TO CHANGE THINGS FROM WITHIN, EVEN AT THE RISK OF LIFE AND LIMB. 
(SIGNED)

NEB/RW/MMK

27-Jul-98 8:51 AM EDT (1251 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
 .