Jakarta, 27 October 2022 (TDI): Foreign Ministers of South East Asian states gathered for a Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting on the situation in Myanmar at ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Indonesia, on 27 October 2022.
Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia chaired the Special ASEAN Foreign Minister Meeting ahead of ASEAN Leaders Summit in November.
A meeting was held to discuss the situation in Myanmar and better ways to implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) endorsed by ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting on 24 April 2021.
The Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting on Situation in Myanmar was held without any representative from Myanmar.
Foreign Ministers exchanged views considerably on how to further strengthen the implementation of 5PC to solve the Myanmar crisis. Along with that, they talk about resuming Myanmar’s full and normal engagement with SE Asian Block.
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The debate between Foreign Ministers entails the ways to facilitate humanitarian assistance to Myanmar and reaffirmed the importance of 5PC.
Representatives from SE Asian countries further emphasized on ASEAN’s centrality and its leading role in returning peace and stability to the people of Myanmar.
Furthermore, representatives unanimously agreed that decision-making in ASEAN shall be based on consultation and consensus and ASEAN Charter shall guide the South East Asian countries collective effort to address the situation in Myanmar.
Foreign Ministers reiterated full support for ASEAN Chair, Cambodia’s efforts to reverse the situation in Myanmar. Moreover, they also showed support to Foreign Minister, Prak Sokhonn, as the special envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar in carrying out the mandate over the past ten months.
The Meeting also recalled the importance of Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia’s visit to Myanmar which paved way for two following visits of the Special Envoy.
Meeting’s Chair Remarks
The Foreign Minister of Cambodia stressed advancing ASEAN Chair’s priorities towards Myanmar including ending or reducing violence, facilitating humanitarian assistance delivery, and creating an enabling environment for political dialogue among all concerned parties.
According to a statement released by Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry, the on-ground situation in Myanmar is very critical and concerning. It says that the recent situation is not due to incredibility and lack of efforts on part of ASEAN and Special Envoy.
However, it is because of Myanmar’s complex and decades-long protracted conflict, which has further escalated due to political crises in the country.
Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn emphasized on ASEAN’s need to act together for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the interest of the people of Myanmar.
The meeting also acknowledged that all concerned parties in Myanmar are responsible for the Myanmar conflict and political crisis that has caused many lives and severe destruction of the country.
Foreign Ministers of SE Asian countries agreed that it is the utmost need of time to conduct a dialogue process to address the situation in Myanmar and its commencement.
In conclusion, top diplomats discussed key recommendations for the upcoming 40th and 41st ASEAN Leaders Summit in November 2022 to ensure the effective implementation of the Five-Point Consensus.
