The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) takes note that the Cambodia will be hosting the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (AMM Retreat) in Phnom Penh on February 17, 2022. Myanmar recognises that Cambodia, as the ASEAN Chair for 2022, has endeavoured to ensure that all members of ASEAN comprising of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam participate in the AMM Retreat, which is the first meeting for the ASEAN Chair in 2022.
Despite numerous attempts by the ASEAN Chair to ensure all members of ASEAN to participate at the AMM Retreat, some members are still holding on to the unilateral decision taken by the previous Chair at the Emergency ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting which was held on October 15, 2021 that only a non-political representative should be invited to participate. Since that decision was contrary to the principles of national sovereignty and equality as stipulated in the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the Myanmar’s Foreign Policy, Myanmar was not able to participate in the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, held in October last year.
Despite the efforts made by the ASEAN Chair and Myanmar to promote cooperation in ASEAN, it is regrettable to see the return of the decision made last year which Myanmar in principle is unable to accept. In this regard, Myanmar’s inability to participate or even designate a non-political representative to the AMM Retreat which will be held on February 17, 2022 is inevitable since it contradicts the principles and practice of equal representation in ASEAN. Myanmar, while upholding the principle of equality as stipulated in the ASEAN Charter, will continue to extend constructive engagement with the current ASEAN Chair, including with all ASEAN Member States.
