US conveys concern over Myanmar coup to ASEAN ambassadors
06 February, 2021
AMERICA (US) has expressed its concern over the military coup in Myanmar to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ambassadors in Washington, the White House said in a statement on Thursday (Feb 4).
US national protection advisor Jake Sullivan expressed President Joe Biden’s “deep concern” above the coup in a call with the ambassadors found on Wednesday evening, the declaration said.
In the decision, Sullivan also expressed appreciation for "ASEAN nations’ focus on this crisis", and the value of regional assist for the "immediate restoration of Burmese democracy", the statement said.
ASEAN, which Myanmar is a member, earlier this week explained it turned out watching developments there carefully.
Myanmar's military on Monday seized power in a good coup against the democratically elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, alleging voter fraud through the elections in November.
The armed service has declared a one-year state of emergency and said it will carry new elections once its allegations are addressed.
In the decision on Wednesday, Mr Sullivan also underscored the administration’s commitment to growing US engagement with ASEAN, the statement added.
Mr Sullivan and the ASEAN ambassadors discussed options for increased cooperation on combating environment modification, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting financial recovery, advancing maritime reliability, encouraging people-to-people ties, along with the value of ASEAN centrality.
On its component, ASEAN’s current chair Brunei on Monday called for dialogue among parties, reconciliation and the "return to normalcy".
Within an ASEAN chairman's statement, Brunei said: "We encourage the pursuance of dialogue, reconciliation and the go back to normalcy relative to the will and interests of the people of Myanmar."
"We reiterate that the political steadiness in ASEAN Member States is essential to obtaining a peaceful, steady and prosperous ASEAN Network."
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