The head of Burma's ruling junta has congratulated the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on its 38th anniversary, without mentioning ASEAN's problems with his own country.
In remarks published in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper Monday, Senior General Than Shwe said ASEAN had brought peace to Southeast Asia.
He says Burma has actively participated in ASEAN to contribute to the maintenance of peace and security in the region, as well as economic and socio-cultural development. Burma was pressured last month into giving up its turn at the chairmanship of ASEAN over its human rights record.
The 10-member grouping was established in Bangkok on August 8, 1967, by founding members Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
In a controversial move, the bloc admitted Burma in 1997. Other members are Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
Information for this report is provided by AFP.
