Malaysia's foreign minister says the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will not stop trying to bring democracy to Burma.
Malaysia's state-run news agency, Bernama, quotes Seri Syed Hamid Albar today as saying it will take time to convince Burma's military government to implement democratic principles.
He acknowledged that Malaysia's previous efforts to lobby Burma to free opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi had been unsuccessful, but he said Kuala Lumpur is committed to Burma's political reform.
Syed Hamid said Burma's government has expressed a commitment to democracy, but says it wants to fully prepare for the change to ensure political stability and national security.
Burma has been under military rule since 1962. The government maintains strict controls on the press and tolerates littledissent.