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Burma Refuses to Give Ground on ASEAN Leadership


Burma says it is not interested in discussing possible democratic reforms at this week's meeting of Asian and African leaders in Indonesia.

Speaking in Jakarta Thursday, after meetings with Indonesian officials, Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win said his delegation came to discuss the summit, not Burma's internal affairs. He said Rangoon would also not be pressured into giving up its turn at leading the southeast Asian regional bloc, ASEAN.

Rangoon has faced growing international demands to step aside from ASEAN's rotating leadership because of Burma's human rights record.

Thailand's foreign minister Kantathi Supamongkhon told reporters Thursday, Burmese officials have assured him they are aware of the world's concerns and that Burma will not be an obstacle to ASEAN unity. The Thai official says he is convinced the chairmanship situation will be resolved in a very good way.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.

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