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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider ASEAN disappointed over developments in Myanmar — DFA

ASEAN disappointed over developments in Myanmar — DFA

Published Aug 11, 2022 05:08 pm

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have expressed disappointment and concern over "volatile" developments in Myanmar, including the recent execution of pro-democracy activists, despite a five-point consensus agreed among members of the regional bloc.

But for Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Daniel Espiritu, it is still "premature to say" that the five-point consensus, agreed in April 2021, is a failure, considering that "from the very start the understanding is that it will take some time before that can work."

The five-point consensus was reached by leaders of ASEAN members in light of the military takeover of the government in Myanmar.​ A consensus was reached on the following issues:

• There shall be immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar

and all parties shall exercise utmost restraint.

• Constructive dialogue among all parties concerned shall

commence to seek a peaceful solution in the interests of the people.

• A special envoy of the ASEAN Chair shall facilitate mediation

of the dialogue process, with the assistance of the SecretaryGeneral of ASEAN.

• ASEAN shall provide humanitarian assistance through the

AHA Centre.

• The special envoy and delegation shall visit Myanmar to meet

with all parties concerned

"The ASEAN ministers and the ministers of the external partners, of course, expressed a lot of disappointment and concerns concerning the developments in Myanmar. But they did not exactly surrender already on the issue," Espiritu said in a press conference.

"They also expressed a concern concerning the protracted process by which this is being dealt with," he added.

Nevertheless, Espiritu said "we are still on it."

ASEAN members have also not yet decided whether to suspend Myanmar's inclusion in the regional bloc, although the chairman of this year's 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which is Cambodia, "decided not to invite Myanmar in accordance with the agreement last October 2021 on the 9th political participation."

"If you look at it, this is a very active application of ASEAN centrality," Espiritu said, adding "the very fact that they were not there was already an imposition of ASEAN centrality."

Related Tags

FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING ASEAN DFA myanmar Centrality
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