Marty said, all ministers from ASEAN member states expressed support for Myanmar`s chairmanship. However, he emphasized the need for Myanmar to continuously improve conditions in the country.Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) - Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said the opportunity for Myanmar to become chair of ASEAN in 2014 could motivate that country to move towards improvements.
Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014 will motivate Myanmar to improve human rights and democracy in the country. The minister made the statement here Tuesday after attending the 45th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting as part of preparations before the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali in Nov 17-19, 2011.
During Tuesday`s ministerial meeting, Marty said, all ministers from ASEAN member states expressed support for Myanmar`s chairmanship. However, he emphasized the need for Myanmar to continuously improve conditions in the country.
In the earlier round of ASEAN rotating leadership Myanmar has to let its turn to be taken by others because it was considered not quite ready for it.
Myanmar should have been the ASEAN chair in 2015 while Laos in 2014 but the Myanmarese government had negotiated with Laos to exchange its turn like what Indonesia and Brunei have done.
Marty visited Myanmar some weeks ago to witness the readiness of that country for the ASEAN chairmanship.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
