(Kuala Lumpur, 13th) Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said that ASEAN condemns the continued violence against civilians in Myanmar and believes that holding elections under the military government is not a priority. Moreover, any election must include participation from all political parties.
On Friday (July 11), after the conclusion of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and a series of related meetings, Mohamad Hasan held a press conference and said that ASEAN foreign ministers urgently call on all parties in Myanmar, especially the State Administration Council of Myanmar, to immediately cease hostilities and violence, comply with ceasefire arrangements, and ensure the unobstructed delivery of humanitarian assistance.
As this year’s ASEAN rotating chair, Malaysia expressed concern over the lack of progress in implementing the Five-Point Consensus within Myanmar and called on relevant parties to take practical actions to promote its comprehensive implementation.
Regarding the Myanmar military’s plan to hold elections at the end of this year or early next year, Mohamad Hasan reiterated that this is not an urgent matter for Myanmar, and if the authorities wish to hold elections, the premise must be inclusivity and fairness. “Rashly or hastily holding elections will only have the opposite effect.”
Due to the lack of progress in implementing the Five-Point Consensus, Mohamad Hasan plans to lead a delegation to visit Naypyitaw in September or October to present the Myanmar military leadership with ASEAN members’ “wish list.”
Mohamad Hasan said that this meeting also conducted extensive discussions on the South China Sea issue. Malaysia emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy and advocated for maintaining the South China Sea as a "sea of peace, stability, and trade."
Mohamad Hasan pointed out that ASEAN emphasized the need for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and expressed encouragement regarding progress in the negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, pledging continued support for related efforts.
Earlier on Friday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Prime Minister’s Office. Anwar thanked China for supporting ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus on the Myanmar situation and emphasized the need to resolve South China Sea issues peacefully in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
After the conclusion of this ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, ASEAN issued a 32-page joint communiqué. Among other points, ASEAN condemned the ongoing violence against Myanmar civilians and public facilities, urged all parties in Myanmar to take concrete actions to immediately end indiscriminate violence, exercise maximum restraint, ensure civilian safety, and create conditions for humanitarian aid and nation-wide dialogue.
The joint communiqué again expressed grave concern over the ongoing tension in the Middle East, called on all parties concerned to exercise restraint, avoid actions that could exacerbate the situation, and resolve their differences through diplomacy and dialogue to safeguard regional peace and stability.
ASEAN foreign ministers also expressed concern over the escalation in the Middle East since June 13 this year and welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Iran on June 24. The foreign ministers called on all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement and avoid further escalation of the conflict.
On Friday (July 11), after the conclusion of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and a series of related meetings, Mohamad Hasan held a press conference and said that ASEAN foreign ministers urgently call on all parties in Myanmar, especially the State Administration Council of Myanmar, to immediately cease hostilities and violence, comply with ceasefire arrangements, and ensure the unobstructed delivery of humanitarian assistance.
As this year’s ASEAN rotating chair, Malaysia expressed concern over the lack of progress in implementing the Five-Point Consensus within Myanmar and called on relevant parties to take practical actions to promote its comprehensive implementation.
Regarding the Myanmar military’s plan to hold elections at the end of this year or early next year, Mohamad Hasan reiterated that this is not an urgent matter for Myanmar, and if the authorities wish to hold elections, the premise must be inclusivity and fairness. “Rashly or hastily holding elections will only have the opposite effect.”
Due to the lack of progress in implementing the Five-Point Consensus, Mohamad Hasan plans to lead a delegation to visit Naypyitaw in September or October to present the Myanmar military leadership with ASEAN members’ “wish list.”
Mohamad Hasan said that this meeting also conducted extensive discussions on the South China Sea issue. Malaysia emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy and advocated for maintaining the South China Sea as a "sea of peace, stability, and trade."
Mohamad Hasan pointed out that ASEAN emphasized the need for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and expressed encouragement regarding progress in the negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, pledging continued support for related efforts.
Earlier on Friday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Prime Minister’s Office. Anwar thanked China for supporting ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus on the Myanmar situation and emphasized the need to resolve South China Sea issues peacefully in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
After the conclusion of this ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, ASEAN issued a 32-page joint communiqué. Among other points, ASEAN condemned the ongoing violence against Myanmar civilians and public facilities, urged all parties in Myanmar to take concrete actions to immediately end indiscriminate violence, exercise maximum restraint, ensure civilian safety, and create conditions for humanitarian aid and nation-wide dialogue.
The joint communiqué again expressed grave concern over the ongoing tension in the Middle East, called on all parties concerned to exercise restraint, avoid actions that could exacerbate the situation, and resolve their differences through diplomacy and dialogue to safeguard regional peace and stability.
ASEAN foreign ministers also expressed concern over the escalation in the Middle East since June 13 this year and welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Iran on June 24. The foreign ministers called on all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement and avoid further escalation of the conflict.