The first recommendation was that ASEAN foreign ministers warmly welcomed significant positive progress made by Myanmar since early this year, Marty said.
Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) - Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said ASEAN foreign ministers have issued three recommendations to ASEAN leaders in connection with Myanmar`s bid for the association`s chairmanship in 2014.

The first recommendation was that ASEAN foreign ministers warmly welcomed significant positive progress made by Myanmar since early this year, Marty said at a press conference at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) on Wednesday night following a meeting of the ASEAN Coordination Council.

He said the second recommendation was that ASEAN foreign ministers underscored the need for Myanmar to maintain and follow up the current momentum in the country.

The third recommendation was that the positive developments in Myanmar and the country`s effort to follow up the developments would help create conditions conducive to ASEAN`s decision making process with regard to its bid for ASEAN chair, he said.

"Actually, from a number of meetings ASEAN`s stand has become apparent," he said in commenting on the association`s stand on the Myanmarese bid.

ASEAN leaders are scheduled to discuss Myanmar`s bid for the ASEAN chairmanship at their 19th summit here on Nov 17-18.

Marty said ASEAN leaders would discuss the recommendations at their summit tomorrow to decide whether to approve the bid or take different stand.

He said the positive developments, the past and follow up action served as conducive conditions that would influence ASEAN leaders to decide the country`s bid for ASEAN chairmanship.

Myanmar missed its turn to chair the regional grouping because it was seen as being unprepared when the country was led by military junta and detained thousands of opposition figures, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

ASEAN`s efforts to ask Myanmar to relinquish its old government style which ignored respect for human rights had been fruitful in the past few years.

Since then, Myanmar had outlined a road map to democracy and gradually met its self-set targets, ranging from enacting a new constitution to holding general elections.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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