ASEAN Sets Admission Rules for Myanmar

Southeast Asian nations set new conditions Saturday for Myanmar to join their regional alliance, postponing a possible clash over Western pressure to isolate its military regime.

Myanmar’s generals are eager to join the Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations to end the international isolation imposed after their troops killed pro-democracy demonstrators in 1988. Myanmar drew criticism from President Clinton during his visit to Thailand last week.

ASEAN leaders said Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, will have to wait until Cambodia and Laos, the only other nonmember countries in the region, are ready to join.

The announcement issued at the end of an informal, one-day meeting by leaders of the seven ASEAN countries meeting in Jakarta did not indicate when that would be.

“At this meeting, it is agreed by all heads of government that all three countries should become members of ASEAN simultaneously,” said Foreign Minister Ali Abdullah Alatas of Indonesia. “As to the timing, that will be announced in due time.”

All three countries have observer status in ASEAN. They have applied for membership in the group, which is made up of Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei.