ASEAN LEADERS TO TACKLE MYANMAR ISSUE IN JAKARTA

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will convene a meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia on April 24 to discuss efforts in building the ASEAN Community, external relations, and regional issues including the crisis in Myanmar.

Plans for the meeting have been in the works. On April 16, regional news sources revealed that leaders of 10 ASEAN members, including Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services of Myanmar Sen. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, are to attend the meeting, according to VNS news agency.

Indonesia through its Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi advocated the meeting with support from Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, and the Philippines. Cambodian AKP news agency on April 16 reported that Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has confirmed his attendance.

Brunei, which currently holds the rotating Chairmanship of Asean, showed its support for the meeting to discuss the situation in Myanmar.

According to a joint statement issued following a meeting between Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah and Prime Minister of Malaysia Muhyiddin Yassin, ministers and high-ranking officials of the two countries have been asked to prepare for the meeting to be held at the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta.

The statement also expressed concern for the deteriorating situation inside the country, and “urged all parties to refrain from instigating further violence, and for all sides to immediately exercise utmost restraint and flexibility.”

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