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Burma to dominate Asean summit Asean delivers rare Burma rebuke
(about 6 hours later)
The annual summit meeting of foreign ministers from the 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) begins on Monday in Singapore. South East Asian nations have issued their strongest rebuke ever to Burma's military rulers, before opening an annual meeting in Singapore.
They will address some large challenges for the 40-year-old association, among them the issue of Burma's membership. The Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) expressed "deep disappointment" at the detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The summit will release a full assessment of the relief effort following the cyclone two months ago, which has been co-ordinated by Asean. And the organisation called for Burma's generals to hold "meaningful dialogue" with opposition figures.
It also provides a rare forum in which regional powers can meet. Burma's rulers have shown few signs of opening up since joining Asean in 1997.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to meet her North Korean counterpart, the first time such a senior-level meeting has taken place for six years. But the bloc is generally reluctant to speak out about the internal affairs of its member states - instead favouring quiet diplomacy.
The BBC's Jonathan Head, at the Singapore meeting, says this policy of constructive engagement appears to have run its course with the Burmese generals.
'Emboldened' group'Emboldened' group
Expectations of Asean summits have sunk so low in recent years, the association may suddenly be in danger of exceeding them. Meanwhile, Burma's Foreign Minister Nyan Win hinted on the fringes of the meeting that Ms Suu Kyi could be freed in six months.
A new Secretary General, Surin Pitsuwan - an outstanding former Thai foreign minister - has breathed new energy into this regional bloc - and even in dealing with its most controversial member, Burma, Asean can finally boast an achievement. But the generals have released the Nobel Peace Prize winner several times in the past - only to re-arrest her soon after.
Its offer to mediate after the cyclone disaster two months ago was greeted with huge scepticism. She has now spent more than 12 of the last 18 years under house arrest.
But Asean's long history of conciliation towards the Burmese military government may have helped it bridge the yawning mistrust between the generals and the international donor community. Asean's recent mediation in the aftermath of the impact of Cyclone Nargis will also be on the agenda.
Its comprehensive report on the relief effort will show that most of the post-cyclone needs were, in the end, met. The organisation was praised for its role in convincing Burma to allow international aid and aid workers into the country, overturning a ban on foreign help in the initial days after the cyclone struck.
Emboldened, Asean is grappling with other regional challenges - a new disaster response plan, food security initiatives, even a new charter, which supposedly enshrines respect for human rights, and is expected to be signed by all members - even Burma - by the end of the year. Our correspondent says the bloc's success with the cyclone may have influenced its bolder-than-usual approach to Burma in Singapore.
But the rationale for this association has always been less about what it does, than what it aims to prevent - conflict among its 10 member states, and domination by regional powers like the United States, China and India. Preventing conflict
And bigger regional issues on the sidelines of this summit - notably a meeting of Foreign Ministers from the six parties to the North Korean nuclear talks - are still likely to overshadow anything that Asean itself announces. Another issue the ministers are tackling is the escalating tension between two other member states - Thailand and Cambodia.
Troops from both countries have been sent to a disputed border area containing the ancient temples of Preah Vihear.
On Monday, Asean called for "utmost caution and restraint" from both sides.
The foreign ministers will also discuss the bloc's new charter, which supposedly enshrines respect for human rights and is expected to be signed by all members - even Burma - by the end of the year.
But our correspondent says the rationale for this association has always been less about what it does than what it aims to prevent - conflict among its 10 member states and domination by powers like the United States, China and India.
And bigger regional issues on the sidelines of this summit - notably a meeting of foreign ministers from the six parties to the North Korean nuclear talks - are still likely to overshadow anything that Asean itself announces, he adds.