ARF ministers likely to take soft stance on Burma

In a draft ARF chairman's statement to be released later Thursday, the leaders of the grouping are to ''welcome'' recent developments in Burma, including move toward national reconciliation and a transition to democracy.

''The Ministers exchanged views on the recent developments in Burma. The Ministers took note of the briefing by Burma on the recent developments in the process of national reconciliation and peaceful transition to democracy as envisaged in the Roadmap to Democracy,'' says the draft, obtained by Kyodo News.

''The Ministers welcomed the convening of the final session of the National Convention, which commenced on 18 July 2007, and were encouraged by the assurances of Burma that the National Convention process will be completed within two months.''

''We also expressed the hope that it would allow Burma to move to the next steps of the Roadmap,'' it says.

While welcoming the developments in this juntaruled country, the leaders of the ARF also expressed concern.

''The Ministers expressed concern on the pace of the national reconciliation process and urged Burma to show tangible progress that would lead to a peaceful transition to democracy in the near future. The Ministers continue to express concern on the detention of all political detainees and reiterated calls for their early release,'' it said.

They also hope Burma's ''efforts to deal with its many complex challenges'' would succeed so Burma can ''effectively engage the international community,'' and, in this regard ''the ARF would remain constructively engaged as required.''

On Monday, officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations mulled at least three versions of a reference to the situation in Burma to be incorporated in a joint statement that was later issued by their foreign ministers.

Burma's own version with no reference to democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, while the Philippines, chair of this year's ASEAN ministerial, and Indonesia, wanted a paragraph in the statement urging Burma's ruling generals to release from detention members of the political opposition and with specific mention of Suu Kyi.

In the final statement, however, the ministers left out her name and called her only ''the NLD leader.''

The National League for Democracy is Suu Kyi's political party.

ARF comprises the 10 members of ASEAN Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam plus Australia, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand, the United States, Russia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Pakistan, North Korea and South Korea, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Japan, China and India.

Sri Lanka was admitted the forum one day before the ARF foreign ministers' meeting kicked off Thursday in Manila.//Kyodo