Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 16 – Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen said that ASEAN made two mistakes on Myanmar crisis, speaking at the cabinet meeting on Thursday at Peace Palace.

The two mistakes are (1) ASEAN has set preconditions for sending its special envoy to coordinate with Myanmar and (2) the invitation letter to attend the ASEAN Summit had not been sent to Myanmar's leader but to secretary general of Foreign Affairs Ministry instead, Information minister Khieu Kanharith quoted premier Hun Sen's remarks as saying.

"ASEAN should have 10 members, not 9. If we accept ASEAN 9, there will be ASEAN 8 or even ASEAN 7 in the future as the decision to invite any leaders of ASEAN member states to attend the meetings is solely based on the ASEAN chairman," the premier said.

"Myanmar's absence from the ASEAN Summit is a violation of the ASEAN charter and the principle of consensus on ASEAN decision-making."

Premier Hun Sen recently announced to pay an official visit to Myanmar on 7-8 January 2022. As the incoming ASEAN chairman, Samdech also appointed Cambodian foreign minister Prak Sokhonn as ASEAN special envoy to coordinate with Myanmar.
=FRESH NEWS