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Burma in ASEAN Limelight (VOA)




Date=7/27/95
Type=Background Report
Number=5-30717
Title=Burma / Asean
Byline=Dan Robinson
Dateline=Brunei


        Intro:   Burma's foreign minister has  arrived  in
     Brunei,  where Southeast Asian countries are  holding
     annual  talks  and  preparing to  meet  key  dialogue
     partners  next week.  Dan Robinson reports,  this  is
     the   first  major  multilateral  meeting  Burma  has
     attended   since  the  military  government  released
     democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house  arrest,
     earlier this month:

        Text:   Foreign minister Ohn Gyaw  was  met  by  a
     solid wall of television cameras and reporters, as he
     arrived at Brunei airport Thursday.

        However,  he had very little to say.  Asked  about
     Burma's  plan to accede to the ASEAN treaty of  amity
     and cooperation, he would say only -- yes, I will  --
     before climbing into a waiting car.

        Interest  in Burma's presence has been  heightened
     considerably by the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, July
     10th.

        Despite   the   move   by  the  Rangoon   military
     government, Burma has the same status as it did  last
     year -- guest of host country -- when it attended  an
     ASEAN meeting for the first time in Bangkok.

        However  --  in the days following the release  of
     Aung  San  Suu Kyi -- Ohn Gyaw told a Thai  newspaper
     Burma  planned  to  take  a significant  step  toward
     eventual  membership  in ASEAN  by  acceding  to  the
     organization's treaty of amity and cooperation.

        Ohn  Gyaw  was  to meet Brunei's foreign  minister
     Thursday   or  Friday  to  formally  hand  over   the
     instruments of accession to the treaty.

        Southeast  Asian governments welcomed the  release
     of  Aung  San  Suu  Kyi.  They say  their  policy  of
     constructive engagement with Rangoon --  in  contrast
     to  what  they  see  as a counter-productive  western
     approach  --  was ultimately the key  factor  in  the
     release.

        Observers say the Suu Kyi release has given  ASEAN
     more  credibility -- and leverage -- with  its  seven
     dialogue   partners,  who  will  be  in  Brunei   for
     bilateral and regional security talks.

        ASEAN dialogue partners include the United States,
     Australia,  New Zealand, Canada, Japan,  South  Korea
     and  the European Union.  On Burma, the United States
     continues to urge political and human rights  reforms
     in  Burma.  A senior US official -- Winston  Lord  --
     said  recently  Washington still wants  a  return  to
     civilian  government  in  Burma.   Still,   he   says
     unilateral   sanctions  would  be  counterproductive,
     without international support.

        ASEAN officials see no reason why Burma should not
     become  an observer within the next two years.   They
     underscore  the eventual goal of a greater  community
     of Southeast Asian nations.  A summit in Bangkok this
     year is expected to bring together for the first time
     leaders of all ten Southeast Asian nations.

        However,  ASEAN  officials make it  clear  Burma's
     acceptance   of  the  ASEAN  treaty  of   amity   and
     cooperation does not mean it will immediately acquire
     observer  status, as Vietnam and Laos did  two  years
     ago.

        Analysts say there is still concern in ASEAN about
     Burma's  military expansion, undertaken with  Chinese
     aid.   ASEAN will also be watching to see  how  Burma
     handles  relations  with  its  closest  neighbor   --
     Thailand.  Tensions between them flared earlier  this
     year.

        And   --   although  ASEAN  members  are   gaining
     investment  and other economic advantages from  their
     engagement with the military government in Rangoon --
     analysts  say  ASEAN would like to see more  progress
     toward greater openness in Burma. (signed)

NEB / WOD / WOD

27-Jul-95 4:10 AM EDT (0810 UTC)
Source: Voice of America

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