In the 10th ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, President Arroyo met with the Myanmar Prime Minister on the issue of Myanmar’s “road map to democracy.”

President Arroyo urged Myanmar that “it would be best for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy to be represented in the political process.”

President Arroyo stated that “having welcomed Myanmar to ASEAN, we want to ensure that the ASEAN vision of a vibrant and democratic community will be realized.”

In an earlier meeting with ASEAN 10 Foreign Ministers, which included Myanmar, I stated during the gathering that the “all-inclusive character of the convention next year in February should include the participation of parties, including the National League for Democracy and its leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.”

I also said that the immediate release of Suu Kyi from house arrest would show Myanmar’s sincerity and restore its international credibility in its road map to democracy.

President Arroyo also relayed to the Myanmar Prime Minister the desire of UN Secretary General Kofi Anan that his UN special envoy be invited again to visit Myanmar. - END
 
 

/jay