PUBLISHED: 17 Dec 2024 at 04: 00
Thailand will host two regional discussions on the Myanmar problems this week in response to Malaysia’s demand for more efforts to re-incorporate Myanmar into the regional bloc. Malaysia, which will take over Asean next time, may lead these discussions.
As a follow-up to Bangkok’s present in October to carry informal meetings to find a solution to the problems that began with the military coup in 2021, foreign affairs minister Maris Sangiampongsa will keep two separate sessions on Thursday and Friday.
Representatives from Myanmar’s government are scheduled to attend the session on Thursday, which ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said will be an informal discussion on border security and transnational crime.
This meeting will be attended by representatives from Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, Mr Nikorndej said yesterday.
Thailand’s leadership in encouraging frank and open discussions with relevant nations about how to collaborate effectively on shared concerns to achieve mutual benefits is reflected in this meeting, he said.
Foreign ministers and senior officials from the region will be consulted by Mr. Maris on Friday during an extended, informal consultation.
All Asean members who are interested can attend the session.
The spokesman said that this session will concentrate on putting the five-point consensus on the Myanmar crisis into action and how to proceed.
An informal meeting of the current, former, and incoming Asean chairs will follow, according to Mr. Nikorndej.
Laos is currently in charge of Asean, having taken over from Indonesia, which held the position last year. Malaysia is next year’s Asean chair.
Asean has slammed Myanmar’s military leaders since the coup by only inviting non-political figures from the nation to regional meetings of leaders and foreign ministers.
Anwar Ibrahim, the prime minister of Malaysia, stated yesterday that he was committed to putting in place Asean’s peace plan, which has made scant progress since it was first released in April 2021, shortly after the coup.
Without going into further detail, Mr. Anwar stated at a joint press conference in Kuala Lumpur with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra that” we are taking measures to ensure Myanmar participates and to bring Myanmar back to the forefront of Asean.”
Indonesia has stated that its foreign minister will attend the scheduled Friday informal discussion.