Thailand's foreign minister says the pressure is not off Burma to restore democracy just because it surrendered its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon told reporters in the Lao capital of Vientiane today-Friday that ASEAN nations had "opened a door" in talks with Burma's ruling generals that the nations would continue to use to push for democratic reforms.
Burma yielded the chairmanship on Tuesday after the United States and European Union said they would boycott ASEAN meetings if the junta took the position next year as scheduled.
On Thursday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick called Burma's political situation a "cancer" that could spread to neighboring countries.
Information for this report is provided by AP and AFP.
