In response to media queries on comments made by other countries to suspend Myanmar's Chairmanship of ASEAN, the MFA Spokesman said:
"This underscores the fact that, as Foreign Minister George Yeo said at the Committee of Supply debate in Parliament on 4 March 2005, ASEAN members are concerned about the situation in Myanmar and its impact on ASEAN's relationship with its Dialogue Partners when Myanmar takes over the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2006. We expect this issue to be discussed at the ASEAN FMs Retreat in Cebu next month. As Foreign Minister George Yeo said in Parliament, some hard messages may very well have to be put across because what happens in Myanmar will affect ASEAN as a whole."
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
24 MARCH 2005