Press Release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the ASEAN-U.S. Special Summit
(14-5-2022, Nay Pyi Taw)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar takes note the Joint Vision Statement of the ASEAN-U.S. Special Summit which was held in Washington, D.C., on 12-13 May 2022.
Myanmar received the invitation from the United States to the non-political representative to attend the ASEAN-U.S. Special Summit, its related meetings and events in Washington, D.C.. 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-U.S. Special Summit.
The Ministry notes the Special Summit held in conjunction with the 45th Anniversary of the ASEAN-United States Dialogue Relations aim to further strengthening ASEAN centrality and unity in ASEAN’s external relations as well as to further enhancing existing cooperation and partnership between ASEAN and the United States.
The Ministry learnt that a Joint Vision Statement was released at the ASEAN-U.S. 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 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 communiques, and the Joint Statement was adopted without ASEAN consensus, Myanmar categorically rejects and dissociates itself from paragraph 26 of the ASEAN-U.S. Special Summit Joint Vision Statement.
In addition, the Ministry protests and objects in the strongest terms on the reports of engagements in Washington between officials from the U.S. State Department and representatives from unlawful associations which the Government of Myanmar had declared as terrorist organisations, specifically the so-called National Unity Government (NUG) and their subordinates.
Myanmar has clearly notified to all countries on 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 general public and innocent civilians. In this regard, the Ministry has sent protest notes to all ASEAN Member States and to the U.S. State Department not to engage with those illegal and terrorist organisations.
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, hamper 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 providing any support and assistance to those terrorist groups and their representatives.
