Landmark decision comes as a surprise relief

VIENTIANE: Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo was among the first to find out Myanmar would forgo the chair of Asean – his Myanmar counterpart told him so when the two men found themselves alone in the restroom. 

Minutes later, Yeo and Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win walked back to a conference room to join other South-East Asian foreign ministers assembled for their annual gathering, and Nyan Win made the landmark announcement over a cup of coffee.