ASEAN expands to nine.

[082903@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

		ASEAN EXPANDS TO NINE
		*********************

     Thursday 24 July, 1997 (3:08am AEST)


          The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has expanded to
          nine, with the admission of Burma and Laos. 

          Following the historic inauguration on its 30th anniversary,
          ASEAN foreign ministers agreed to help resolve the
          Cambodia crisis, but rejected Phnom Penh's last-minute
          attempt to be admitted. 

          ASEAN postponed Cambodia's admission indefinitely after
          the coup by second prime minister Hun Sen.

          Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in
          Kuala Lumpur Mr Hun Sen had reversed his earlier decision
          against ASEAN mediation. 

          Meanwhile, the ousted first prime minister Prince Ranariddh
          has held talks with Indonesia's President Suharto, on the
          latest leg of his Southeast Asian tour to lobby support. 

          ASEAN foreign ministers plan to hold another meeting to
          consider the situation in Cambodia. 

	(ABC News, 24 July 1997)

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