MANILA: Two proposals aimed at strengthening Asean’s response to the Myanmar crisis remain under deliberation by the regional bloc’s senior officials, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He said the proposals, covering the terms of reference for a proposed Asean special envoy on Myanmar and measures to assess progress in the country, were being discussed in line with the mandate given by leaders at the 48th Asean Summit in May.
Mohamad said Malaysia continued to emphasise the need for clear objectives and measurable progress in implementing Asean’s Five-Point Consensus (5PC), which remains the bloc’s main framework for addressing the crisis.
“The crisis in Myanmar remains one of the most pressing challenges to Asean’s unity and credibility.
“The 5PC remains Asean’s main reference on Myanmar. We continue to emphasise the need for clear objectives and measurable progress, particularly in the implementation of the 5PC,” he said in his intervention at the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting here yesterday.
The documents under deliberation are the Non-Paper on the Terms of Reference of the Proposed Special Envoy of Asean on Myanmar and the Non-Paper on Asean Elements to Assess Progress in Myanmar.
The proposals are part of Asean’s efforts to strengthen implementation of the 5PC, which was adopted in April 2021 following the military takeover in Myanmar.
The consensus calls for an immediate cessation of violence, constructive dialogue among all parties, the appointment of a special envoy, humanitarian assistance and a visit by the envoy to Myanmar to meet relevant stakeholders.
