"M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra is the chairman of the Asia Dialogue Society, a group of Asian former government officials and scholars that promotes regional cooperation. He has served as a Democrat Party Member of the Thai Parliament since 1996 and was the deputy minister of foreign affairs between 1997 and 2001. In 1999, when gunmen seized the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok, he negotiated the release of their hostages and accompanied the attackers by helicopter to the Thai-Burma border. He talked to The Irrawaddy about Burma?s membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the consequences for Asian diplomacy. Question: Burma?s inclusion in Asean continues to mar the grouping?s international image but, aside from the recent fallout with the EU over the Asia-Europe Meeting [ASEM] what damage has really been done?..."