ASEAN Summit: US backs exclusion of Myanmar army chief, calls it 'completely justified'

Amid ongoing Myanmar crisis, a senior US State Department official on Friday, 15 October, backed exclusion of Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, from an upcoming ASEAN Summit. Speaking at a press briefing, US official said that it is “completely justified” to t allow Myanmar’s participation in upcoming summit of Association of Souast Asian Nations (ASEAN). y added that Washington is supporting all efforts to promote a peaceful resolution to Myanmar crisis. 

"It seems perfectly appropriate and, in fact, completely justified for ASEAN to downgrade Burma's [Myanmar's] participation [in summit]," official said during a press briefing as per Sputnik. 

"We are supporting all efforts to promote a just and peaceful resolution to crisis [in Myanmar], restoration of democratic institutions and we fully respect ASEAN's decisions re,” senior US official added. 

Myanmar’s military leader excluded from ASEAN Summit

State Department official went on to say that additionally, United States is also talking about downgrading participation of Myanmar in future ASEAN summits and meetings. It is to mention that statement from senior US official comes after ASEAN members decided to exclude Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing from participation in summit. decision was made in response to Myanmar Army’s unwillingness to eng with regional bloc to resolve ongoing political and humanitarian crisis in nation. 

According to Sputnik, US, UK, Canada and European Union (EU) on Friday extended ir support to ASEAN special envoy for Myanmar ahead of his trip to Souast Asian country. declaration made by aforementioned countries was also inked by New Zealand, rway, South Korea and Timor Leste. countries called on Myanmar to eng constructively with ASEAN Special Envoy to implement aspects of Five-Point Consensus swiftly for a peaceful resolution to Myanmar crisis. 

It said that signatories endorsed ASEAN’s efforts to “chart a course out of current crisis in Myanmar. We welcome prospective visit to Myanmar by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei.” Meanwhile, according to Nikkei Asia, Myanmar’s foreign ministry had earlier this week said that military government was “committed to constructively cooperating” in implementation of a five-point consensus.