Malaysia PM warns against barring B

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	MALAYSIAN PM WARNS AGAINST BARRING BURMA FROM ASIA-EUROPE MEETING
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          Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, has warned
          that the Association of South East Asian Nations may
          boycott an Asia-Europe summit in London next year if
          Burma is barred from attending.

          A local newspaper quotes Mr Mahatir as saying if there is
          discrimination against Burma, other ASEAN countries may
          decide NOT to attend.

          The comments come after British Foreign Secretary, Robin
          Cook, ruled out Burma's participation in the meeting because
          of European Union sanctions against the ruling military junta.

          The sanctions deny visas to officials from Burma, which is
          widely accused of human rights abuses and links with
          international drug trafficking.

          Burma was admitted to ASEAN last July, however that does
          NOT give the country automatic entry into the Asia-Europe
          Meeting, or ASEM, which held an inaugural 25-nation
          summit in Bangkok in 1996. 

	[ABC News, 2 September 1997]

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