Hanoi (VNA) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members are working closely together to implement the five-point consensus reached by their leaders to settle the crisis in Myanmar.

Speaking on July 7, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan clarified that within the ASEAN framework, the countries are working to expedite this process with a view of alleviating the humanitarian situation, ceasing the violence in Myanmar, and setting it back on the path of direct negotiation by all stakeholders that will lead to normalcy, peace, and stability for the long term.

ASEAN has been leading the diplomatic effort on Myanmar since the Southeast Asian country fell into a political stalemate on February 1 after the military arrested government leaders, regional and state governors and senior members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

At the ASEAN Leaders' Meeting held in late April in Jakarta, ASEAN leaders reached consensus on five points on Myanmar situation: ending violence, conducting constructive dialogue among all parties, appointing a special ASEAN envoy to facilitate the dialogue, providing humanitarian assistance for Myanmar’s people through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance.

More than 6 million people in Myanmar are in crucial need of food and one half of the country’s population may suffer poverty and hunger from early next year./.
VNA