Russia supports ASEAN consensus on Myanmar crisis | ASEAN News

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During his visit to Jakarta, Russia’s top diplomat said the ASEAN five-point consensus should be the basis for resolving the Myanmar crisis.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed support for a diplomatic effort in Southeast Asia to end the political crisis in Myanmar.

Speaking on a visit to the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, Lavrov said the five-point consensus agreed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc should be the basis for which the situation in Myanmar can be resolved.

“In our contacts with the Myanmar leadership, the military leaders, we promote the position of ASEAN which should, in our opinion, be seen as a basis to resolve this crisis and bring the situation back to normal,” Lavrov said. to journalists.

He was speaking on a video conference following talks with his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi.

The diplomat’s comments are important and come against a backdrop of deepening engagement between Russia and the Burmese military, even as major world powers sanction its companies and key executives and call for a global ban on sales of gasoline. arms to this Southeast Asian country.

Marsudi stressed the importance of the five-point consensus – which calls for an immediate end to the violence in Myanmar and the opening of a dialogue between all parties – and called on Russia to support its implementation.

“This requires the commitment of the Burmese military to cooperate with other ASEAN member countries,” she said.

Myanmar has been in crisis since its army overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. The takeover sparked national anger that quickly turned into protests and strikes that were brutally suppressed by the security forces. At least 892 people have been killed, while tens of thousands have been displaced amid fighting between security forces and newly formed combatant groups across the country.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who led the February coup, met with ASEAN leaders in April and agreed to his peace plan. In addition to calls for dialogue and an end to violence, the plan also calls for the appointment of a special envoy and greater humanitarian access to areas affected by conflict.

The military, however, has since shown no intention of going through with it and has instead reiterated its own entirely different plan to restore order and democracy. The military’s lack of action has frustrated the most vocal members of ASEAN, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

While Russia has also expressed concern about the violence in Myanmar, it is among the few countries that have recognized Min Aung Hlaing’s government. It is a key supplier of weapons and training to the Burmese military and has sent senior officials to the country to meet with the generals.

Last month, Russia also hosted Min Aung Hlaing and a military delegation for an extended visit to Moscow, during which he gave numerous speeches and media interviews and received an honorary professorship.

Lavrov and Marsudi are expected to co-chair a video meeting with other ASEAN foreign ministers before the Russian envoy leaves for another Southeast Asian country, Laos.



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