- Title: MALAYSIA: ASEAN FORMALLY AMITS NEW MEMBERS BURMA AND LAOS
- Date: 23rd July 1997
- Summary: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (JULY 23, 1997) (RTV/POOL - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV OF CITY/ZOOM INTO CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT 0.07 2. SV/LV HOTEL WHERE ASEAN CONFERENCE HELD (2 SHOTS) 0.22 3. PAN FLAGS 0.30 4. GV OF SIGNING CEREMONY 0.34 5. LV OF ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS AT SIGNING CEREMONY 0.40 6. SV BURMESE FOREIGN MINISTER U OHN GYAW (RIGHT IN HEADBAND) AND LAOS FOREIGN MINISTER SIGNING ADMISSION DOCUMENTS 0.50 7. SV BURMESE DELEGATION WATCHING 0.52 8. MCU BURMESE FM U OHN GYAW SAYING "IT IS FOR THEM THAT WE ARE NOW LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS OF A PEACEFUL MODERN STATE WITH HARMONY AMONG THE NATIONAL RACES " (ENGLISH) 1.04 9. LV BURMESE DELEGATION WATCHING 1.07 10. MCU INDONESIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALI ALATAS SAYING " I REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT THE ADMISSION OF CAMBODIA AS A FULL MEMBER COULD TAKE PLACE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE" (ENGLISH) 1.20 11. LV ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS LINED UP HOLDING HANDS 1.40 Initials P3/2 S3/2 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 7th August 1997 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
- Country: Malaysia
- Reuters ID: LVA7V374PD3670INC2FJ4P4BGDW5
- Story Text: ASEAN (the Association of South East Asian Nations) has formally admitted new members Burma and Laos but has left unsettled the sticky question of Cambodia's membership in the regional grouping.
The ceremony to admit Myanmar, as Burma is officially known in the region, went ahead on Wednesday (July 23) despite harsh criticism of its entry from the United States and other Western nations, who want Burma isolated for its military rulers' human rights record and crackdown on pro-democracy movement.
ASEAN has maintained that its policy of "constructive engagement" was the best way of reforming Burma's military rulers.
ASEAN, celebrating its 30th year, now comprises Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Burma and Laos.
A senior ASEAN source said it was highly unlikely Cambodia would be admitted in the near future. He said it was more likely to happen during an annual ASEAN summit in December if the situation in Cambodia is straightened out, "although in politics anything can happen".
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