ASEAN ministers urge reduced violence, dialogue in Myanmar

By NINIEK KARMINI
Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Southeast Asian foreign ministers are urging Myanmar’s military rulers to reduce violence and allow unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to pave the way for a national dialogue aimed at ending the country’s worsening crisis. The ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations also granted observer status to East Timor, Asia’s newest nation, ahead of it becoming the regional bloc’s 11th member. Myanmar is an ASEAN member, but its foreign minister was excluded from Friday’s meetings because of his country’s failure to implement a five-step consensus on restoring peace forged with ASEAN in 2021. Indonesia is the chair of ASEAN this year. Its foreign minister says the situation in Myanmar tests the regional bloc’s credibility.