MYANMAR ISSUE LIKELY TO BE RAISED AT ASEM IN HANOI

From D. Arul Rajoo

HANOI, May 25 (Bernama) -- The issue of democracy in Myanmar, especially the
ongoing trial of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, is expected to hog the
limelight at the Ninth Asia-Europe (ASEM) Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM)
starting here Monday.

Myanmar is not on the official agenda but officials said that some member
countries from Europe are likely to touch on the matter during a session on
regional and international development.

"It was not discussed during the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) this
morning. But we heard that the matter is likely to come into the picture when
foreign ministers deliberate on current developments in Asia and Europe," an
Asean diplomat said.

The European Union (EU) had been very vocal against the Myanmar's military
junta.

Last month, its foreign ministers agreed to extend until April 2010 the
sanctions against some 500 regime figures and their relatives, and about 80
businesses linked to them.

The call for further sanction was raised after the junta put the detained
Nobel Peace laureate on trial on charges of harbouring an American man who swam
to her heavily-guarded home. On that charge, she faced up to five years in
detention.

A European diplomat said EU delegates are keen to hear from Myanmar Foreign
Minister Major General Nyan Win on the latest development in the country and how
the regime was planning to hold the 2010 elections.

"If not here, then the issue will definitely be raised at the Asean-EU
Ministerial Meeting in Phnom Penh on May 27 and 28," he said.

About 500 delegates from 45 ASEM members, comprising 17 Asian and 28
European countries, are expected to attend the two-day meeting, themed "Forging
a Closer Asia-Europe Partnership to Address the Financial and Economic Crisis
and Other Global Challenges."

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, who is currently attending the
36th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of the
Islamic Conference (OIC) in Syria, will arrive here Monday to attend the
meeting.

During the two-day deliberation at the National Convention Centre, Asian
foreign ministers and their counterparts from EU would touch on the current
economic crisis, economic cooperation and proposal to build a network of members
to combat climate change.
-- BERNAMA