ASEAN Sets Rules to Admit Myanmar

Southeast Asian nations set new conditions 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 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 region’s other nonmember countries, are ready to join. The announcement issued at the end of a one-day meeting by leaders of the seven ASEAN countries in Jakarta did not indicate when that would be.