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NEWS - ASEAN-EU Meeting Delayed Ove



ASEAN-EU Meeting Delayed Over Myanmar Issue

               Xinhua
               14-NOV-97

               BANGKOK (Nov. 14) XINHUA - A meeting
               between the Association of Southeast Asian
               Nations (ASEAN) and the Europe Union (EU)
               has been postponed due to their differences
               over the Myanmar issue, the local press
               reported today. 

               The meeting of the joint ASEAN-EU
               Cooperation Committee, which is scheduled
               for next week in Bangkok, has been set to be
               postponed due to the EU's insistence on
               refusal of Myanmar's participation in the
               meeting. 

               Thai Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary
               Saroj Chavanaviraj Thursday said that the
               EU had informed Thailand of its stance
               earlier this week, but ASEAN will uphold the
               principle of non-discrimination. 

               Thailand currently serves as the Asian side's
               coordinator with the EU on the Asia-Europe
               cooperation within the framework of the
               Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), which opened
               its first meeting in Bangkok last year
               embracing the seven ASEAN member then
               plus China, Japan, and South Korea as well
               as the 15 EU members. 

               Myanmar, together with Laos, was admitted
               into ASEAN in July this year, making ASEAN
               become a nine-member grouping, but the
               EU has been pressing ASEAN not to allow
               Myanmar to participate in the Asia-Europe
               conference due to Myanmar' domestic
               issues. 

               The EU reportedly has expressed regrets
               over the cancellation of the meeting. 

               However, senior ASEAN officials are likely to
               meet during the Asia-Pacific Economic
               Cooperation meeting to be held in
               Vancouver, Canada later this month to
               discuss the matter, according to Wiboon
               Kusakul, director of the Press Division under
               the Thai Foreign Ministry. 

               The joint committee could reopen in
               February next year if the two sides bridge
               the gap, he added.