Indonesia And Burma FMs Discuss ASEAN Chair

By Ko Htwe

Indonesia’s foreign minister Marty Natalegawa today met with his Burmese counterpart Wanna Maung Lwin in Rangoon and discussed procedures for the hand-over of ASEAN’s chairmanship to Burma in year 2014, according to an Indonesian official.

Djumara Supriyadi, third secretary of the Indonesian Embassy in Rangoon, said Natalegawa, who is current chairman of the Southeast Asian body, was in Burma to attend the second meeting of Indonesia-Burma Joint Commission, which followed up the first meeting held in Jakarta in 2007.

“After discussing with many elements of Myanmar (Burma), Indonesia government believe that Myanmar [will] have a good governance, true democratization and also good human right…”, said Supriyadi.

“The meeting also included a discussion on Burma’s chairmanship of the ASEAN in 2014.”

He added two ministers also held discussions on boosting relationship between the two countries.

Chairmanship for the Association of South East Asian Nations is currently held by Indonesia, and to be succeeded by Cambodia next year. The regional body’s annual summit in Bali this November decided to grant the position to Burma in 2014.

Supriyadi said Natalegawa is also scheduled to meet Burma’s democracy-icon Aung San Suu Kyi at her house in Rangoon this evening.

“I believe our minister would like to inform the lady latest updates and also would like to share the commitment of Indonesia to support Myanmar’s reform and democratisation process and also to go hand in hand to make Myanmar as a better country.”