THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar takes note of the Joint Vision Statement of the ASEAN-US Special Summit which was held in Washington DC, on 12-13 May 2022.
Myanmar received the invitation
from the United States to the non-political representative to attend the
ASEAN-US Special Summit, its related meetings and events in Washington DC.
Since the invitation was contrary to the principles of respecting national
sovereignty and equality as stipulated in the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of
Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), and the Charter of the United
Nations, Myanmar did not participate in the ASEAN-US Special Summit.
The Ministry notes the Special
Summit held in conjunction with the 45th Anniversary of the ASEAN-United States
Dialogue Relations aims to further strengthen ASEAN centrality and unity in
ASEAN’s external relations as well as to further enhance existing cooperation
and partnership between ASEAN and the United States.
The Ministry learnt that a Joint
Vision Statement was released at the ASEAN-US Special Summit and observed some
country-specific paragraphs in the Joint Statement, including one paragraph
referring to the developments in Myanmar.
Despite Myanmar’s request to delete
the Myanmar specific paragraph from the Joint Statement, it is regrettable to
see that the Statement was adopted and released without ASEAN consensus. The
language used in the paragraph on Myanmar clearly shows the level of
interference in domestic affairs of a sovereign country and lacks an objective
and balanced approach called by the country concerned. Moreover, that paragraph
mentioned elements which totally lie within the sovereign jurisdiction of
Myanmar, including unacceptable proposals that go beyond the Five-Point
Consensus reached by ASEAN Leaders in April 2021 in Jakarta.
Due to Myanmar’s consistent
position against any country-specific issues in ASEAN statements and joint
communique, and the Joint Statement was adopted without ASEAN consensus,
Myanmar categorically rejects and dissociates itself from paragraph 26 of the
ASEAN-US Special Summit Joint Vision Statement.
In addition, the Ministry protests
and objects in the strongest terms to the reports of engagements in Washington
between officials from the US State Department and representatives from
unlawful associations which the Government of Myanmar had declared as terrorist
organizations, specifically the so-called National Unity Government (NUG) and
their subordinates.
Myanmar has clearly notified all
countries of the illegal, unlawful and terrorist status of the so-called NUG
and its associated entities as they are obviously masterminding and committing
terrorist activities and instigating disturbances causing instability and
insecurity for the general public and innocent civilians. In this regard, the
Ministry has sent protest notes to all ASEAN Member States and the US State
Department not to engage with those illegal and terrorist organizations.
Such engagements with illegal,
unlawful and terrorist entities – the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw
(CRPH), the National Unity Government (NUG), People’s Defence Force (PDF) and
all their subordinates’ groups – could abet terrorism and violence in the
country, hampering the Myanmar Government’s anti-terrorism efforts and infringe
international and regional anti-terrorism agreements, laws and initiatives.
The Ministry reiterates its call on
the government officials and parliamentarians of ASEAN member states and
External Dialogue Partners not to make contacts, engagements or communication
as well as provide any support and assistance to those terrorist groups and
their representatives.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nay Pyi Taw
Date, 14 May 2022
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