The United Nations envoy for Burma says the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is right to consider increasing pressure on the country's military rulers to enact democratic reforms.
Razali Ismail says Burma's leaders must understand that if they are to belong to an organization like ASEAN they must accept the democratic principles supported by most nations in the region.
The envoy did not give formal U.N. backing to the move by Malaysian lawmakers to prevent Burma from assuming the ASEAN chairmanship in 2006, but he said Burma's junta should understand the signal and move toward democracy.
Mr. Razali has not been allowed into Burma for more than a year.
Information for this report is provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
