ASEAN to hold foreign ministers’ meeting on Myanmar
ASEAN members are arranging to hold a special foreign ministers meeting next week to discuss the political crisis in Myanmar in the wake of the coup there early this month, according to ASEAN diplomatic sources.
Soldiers at a checkpoint in Naypyidaw, Myanmar (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - ASEAN members are arranging tohold a special foreign ministers meeting next week to discuss the politicalcrisis in Myanmar in the wake of the coup there early this month, according to ASEANdiplomatic sources.
It would be the first such meeting of the 10-memberAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations since the member country's militaryousted the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.
The Kyodo News Agency quoted sources as saying that most ASEAN countries haveexpressed readiness to attend the meeting, with Myanmar's military-appointedForeign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin also asked to attend.
The meeting is likely to be a hybrid form with someattending in person and others joining virtually due to the coronaviruspandemic, according to one of the sources. An in-person meeting would be heldin the Indonesian capital Jakarta, where ASEAN has its secretariat.
In Thailand on February 24, Wunna Maung Lwin arrived inThailand to hold diplomatic negotiations related to recent politicaldevelopments in the country. Wunna Maung Lwin’s engaging in the negotiationsshowed Myanmar’s efforts in cooperating with ASEAN to seek solutions topolitical issues in the country.
ASEAN comprises 10 member countries. Myanmar joined theassociation in 1997.
In early February, in a statement, ASEAN called on thesides to seek dialogue and reconciliation to bring the situation backto normal soon.
The statement highlighted the importance of ASEAN member states’ political stability inachieving peace, stability, and prosperity for the ASEAN Community.
The military of Myanmar pledged to hold an election andtransfer the power, while rejecting the accusation of conducting coup d'état aswell as violence in protests inside the country./.
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Soldiers at a checkpoint in Naypyidaw, Myanmar (Photo: VNA) 
