New Zealand accepts Myanmar issue is an Asean affair

The Star Online (1 April 2005) - New Zealand has registered with Malaysia its concern over the prospect of Myanmar chairing next year’s Asean summit but accepts that only Asean can make a decision on this prickly issue.

“It does pose an issue because in 2006 Myanmar would not only be the chair but would also be designated as New Zealand’s dialogue co-ordinating partner,” New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said. 

Asean’s Western dialogue partners, particularly the United States, European Union and Australia – harsh critics of the Myanmar regime over its treatment of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi – have indicated their reservations about attending the dialogue with Asean if Myanmar took over the chair.  

Stating Malaysia’s position, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said: “We are still committed to the Asean policy of constructive engagement with Myanmar.”  

The procedure of Asean countries taking turns to host Asean meetings and take on the chairmanship would continue on a regular basis, he said, adding that any decision made would be based on the Asean policy of consensus.  

He said although backbenchers in the Malaysian Parliament had been very vocal in their criticism of Myanmar during debates, he had not heard any formal words on this issue from other Asean countries.  

Clark said that as a country in the Asia Pacific region, New Zealand was keen to be engaged in any regional efforts aimed at promoting economic growth and development.  

One such forum was the forthcoming East Asia Summit between the Asean Ten and the three main dialogue partners – China, Japan and South Korea – which Malaysia would host in December.  

New Zealand was one of the countries interested to be full dialogue partners in the summit but had only been accorded “sectoral partners” status, meaning they could only turn up for bilateral meetings with any of the countries taking part.  

Clark also said since the Sept 11 incident in the United States, her government believed that it was very important for western countries to make concerted efforts to reach out to the Muslim world.  

“We do not accept that Islam is a religion that supports terrorism, it’s only a very small group of people who have tried to pervert it and we absolutely reject that.”  

She said New Zealand recognised Malaysia as a leading voice among developing nations.  

“We value the insights you bring on the perspectives of not only Malaysia and South-East Asia, but also from Malaysia’s current position as chair of both the OIC and the Non-Aligned Movement,” said Clark.