ASEAN reiterates importance of dialogue among stakeholders to resolve Myanmar conflict

ASEAN Foreign Ministers agreed on July 21 to set benchmarks to measure progress on Myanmar's peace roadmap and to appoint an ASEAN Special Envoy for a longer term. These points were discussed at a sideline meeting of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Manila, and senior officials will finalize them for presentation to leaders at the upcoming ASEAN Summit in November, according to Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin Jr. The meeting reviewed proposals from the Bangkok meeting, focusing on creating a framework to assess Myanmar's progress and appointing a special envoy who will be responsible for a longer term, rather than an annually rotating one. Locsin, the ASEAN Special Envoy for Myanmar, told reporters that lower-level officials have been tasked with detailed discussions as these are key points for the upcoming November summit. Brunei proposed establishing a dedicated unit under the ASEAN Secretariat to support the Special Envoy's work, but financial and procedural details are still being negotiated. Locsin stated that these new approaches do not mean abandoning the Five-Point Consensus agreed upon since 2021. Despite challenges posed by the Myanmar Parliament's rejection of the Five-Point Consensus, Myanmar's Foreign Minister appointed by the military regime, U Tin Maung Swe, clarified at the Bangkok meeting that the decision was nullified and the consensus remains in effect. ASEAN is drafting a document to define how Myanmar's implementable progress will be assessed, and senior officials are finalizing the details. Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan reaffirmed the Five-Point Consensus during his meeting with ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Manila and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the release of political prisoners, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance. ASEAN Foreign Ministers urged for constructive dialogue among all stakeholders to peacefully and sustainably resolve the Myanmar conflict.