PRESS RELEASE
Department of Foreign Affairs
2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                *             Tel. No. 834-4000               *              www.dfa.gov.ph
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 300
18 June 2003, Phnom Penh, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)

DIFFERING POLICIES ON MYANMAR NOT NECESSARILY AT CROSS-PURPOSES – OPLE

Building on the unprecedented action taken by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers at their annual meeting , Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople today told the participants to the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) that the issue of Myanmar should not be seen as a test for different policies and that the stand taken by ASEAN and the desires of other countries deeply concerned with Myanmar may not necessarily be at cross-purposes.  Present at the ARF meeting were the foreign ministers of countries who are very critical of the current government of Myanmar.

Prior to the ARF meeting, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers met for two days and held closed-door informal meetings on the issue of Myanmar.  During those meetings, Secretary Ople took the lead in emphasizing the need for ASEAN to take a stronger stand on the issue of Myanmar.  As a result, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers issued what amounted to a call on Myanmar to free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the members of her political party.

During the ARF meeting, Secretary Ople said that ASEAN had taken an unprecedented position on a fellow ASEAN member and that in turn, ASEAN had received the assurances of Myanmar that they will heed ASEAN’s call.  Secretary Ople added that “the world sees ASEAN through lenses that they have focused on Myanmar.”

Referring to ASEAN policies relating to Myanmar, Secretary Ople said that “We have come to a point where our policy of constructive engagement meets up with our policy of non-interference.  I believe that both shall stand.”

Secretary Ople also discussed the policies of other nations on Myanmar, saying that “We have come to a point where our policy of constructive engagement is pitted against policies of other nations of isolation and intimidation.  I believe that the policy that is based on peaceful dialogue and mutual respect should, and shall, win out.”

He was optimistic, however, that the some policies could be adjusted and that all states can work together in bringing peace and democracy to Myanmar.

“We welcome and understand the deep concerns of the other participants of ARF on Myanmar.  Perhaps we can work together in addressing those concerns, through peaceful dialogue, where sober reason and not rigid rhetoric prevails,” the Secretary said.

The ARF is the sole regional platform for security and political discussions.  This forum groups the ten ASEAN member countries with Australia, Canada, China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the European Union, India, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States.

The ARF met in Phom Penh, following the annual meeting yesterday of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers. END.