Many of the group’s foreign ministers expressed their hope that their Burmese counterpart, Nyan Win, would announce during a series of meetings here that the junta had decided to forego the chairmanship.

“Signals from Myanmar [Burma] have been positive that it will take Asean’s interests into special consideration,” said Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamong-khon. “We hope that the interaction we will have in the next four days will be productive.”

The issue of Burma’s chairmanship is in the spotlight at the Vientiane meeting because Asean is facing mounting pressure from the United States and the Euro-pean Union, who have warned they’ll stay away from the grouping’s activities, if Burma takes the chair late next year.

However, a division of opinion continues. Some members, including Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, consider the pressure to have Burma give up the position is an unacceptable interference in Asean affairs. Lao government spokes-man Yong Chanthalangsy told reporters he saw no problems if Burma took the position.

Thuang Tun, a senior official at the Burmese Foreign Ministry, said his country was ready to chair the group as scheduled. “Myanmar [Burma] has capable human resources, good facilities, many hotels and warm hospitality,” he said.

The draft of an Asean declaration to be issued today after the foreign ministers’ meeting says Burma will take the position of vice chairman while Malaysia will take over the chairmanship, after Laos, later this year. The draft, seen by The Nation, indicates that Burma will assume the chairmanship, as scheduled, after Malaysia.

Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win made no comment on the issue upon his arrival in the Laotian capital yesterday. A senior diplomat said Asean expected to hear from him during an informal meeting today.

Kantathi said there was a strong possibility that Burma would not announce anything in Vientiane, but would wait until a summit meeting of leaders in Kuala Lumpur later this year.

Meanwhile, the UN special envoy to Burma, Razali Ismail, told reporters yesterday that he had sought a meeting with Nyan Win on the sidelines of the Asean gathering to discuss his return to Burma after being banned for about 15 months.

Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Vientiane