AP-Dow Jones: Burma Joining ASEAN

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Burma Minister: Tensions Won't Set Back Joining ASEAN
 
   KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP-Dow Jones)--The recent tensions between =
Burma's
military government and pro-democracy forces will not affect the nation's=
 bid
to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Burmese Foreign Minis=
ter
Ohn Gyaw said Sunday. 
   His comments came a day after U.S. special envoys said in Bangkok that=
 ASEAN
would not want Burma to become a disruptive influence. 
   'ASEAN has no more interest than the U.S. does in seeing Burma come =
into its
ranks if it's going to end up becoming a point of ASEAN discussions, espe=
cially
if it's going to become an element of instability, a disruptive influence=
,'
said Stanley Roth, one of the two envoys. 
   The envoys, on a weeklong tour, had visited the ASEAN countries to =
coordinate
response to the tensions in Burma.  They said the region was concerned =
about
possible violence and bloodshed in Burma. 
   'I don't think that the happenings in Burma will affect our chance =
to become
a member of ASEAN,' Ohn Gyaw said at an news conference on his arrival =
to
attend the Mekong Development Cooperation ministerial meeting Monday and
Tuesday. 
   'Burma is as stable as any country in this region, and I can even assu=
re that
we are safer than any country around,' he added. 
   Asked if Burma should allow ASEAN to play a role in reconciliation =
in Burma,
he said, 'ASEAN is very active and has taken a leading role through the
constructive engagement policy.' 
   Malaysia and other ASEAN nations have favored 'constructive engagement=
' with
Burma, saying it has more chance of influencing that nation than the isol=
ation
or confrontation policies pursued by Western nations. 
   In preparation to join ASEAN, Ohn Gyaw said, 'we have to liberalize =
our laws
because it is very important. ... We are changing our economic systems.' =

   U.S. envoys William Brown and Stanley Roth were sent by President Clin=
ton to
visit them after tensions rose between pro-democracy opposition leader =
Aung San
Suu Kyi and the ruling military junta. 
   (END) AP-DOW JONES NEWS 17-06-96
   0439GMT