Philippines Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo says he has urged Burma to introduce promised democratic reforms before foreign ministers from the Association of East Asian Nations meet in July.
Mr. Romulo said he made the push at a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers Monday in central Philippines. He said Burmese military rulers should free pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, craft a new constitution and allow a United Nations special envoy to visit the country.
Foreign ministers attending the annual ASEAN retreat in the Philippines agreed to discuss Burma further at their next meeting in Laos in July.
Western nations have long condemned Rangoon's human rights record. The concerns have become more focused as Burma looks to take its turn leading the regional bloc in 2006.
Information for this report is privided by AP.
