ASEAN is committed to assist Myanmar in finding a peaceful and durable solution to the current crisis.

The commitment was reiterated by the ASEAN Leaders during the 40th and 41st Summits in Phnom Penh on Nov. 11, according to a statement. 

After reviewing the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, the ASEAN Leaders decided that it shall remain the valid reference and should be implemented in its entirety.
  
There is a need for an implementation plan that outlines concrete, practical and measurable indicators with specific timeline to support the Five-Point Consensus and, therefore, shall be developed, said the statement, adding that the ASEAN Foreign Ministers was tasked to develop the implementation plan.

They also agreed to seek all parties concerned to adhere to and implement the Five-Point Consensus and for ASEAN to engage all stakeholders soon. Engagement would be done in a flexible and informal manner, primarily undertaken by the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar due to the neutrality that is inherent in his/her mandate, with the sole objective of restoring peace and stability in the country in accordance with the Five-Point Consensus. 

“Whilst maintaining Myanmar’s non-political representation to the ASEAN Summits and the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, we tasked the ASEAN Coordinating Council to further review Myanmar’s representation at ASEAN meetings, if the situation so requires,” they said.
 
The ASEAN Leaders reaffirmed that ASEAN Summit is the supreme decision-making body and will make the final decision on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, including when consensus cannot be achieved, in line with the ASEAN Charter.

They urged all parties concerned to de-escalate tensions and exercise utmost restraints and all parties concerned that bear arms should be fairly held accountable and condemned for violence, noting that the Myanmar Armed Force is the single largest military forces in Myanmar.
 
At the same time, they called all parties in Myanmar to facilitate the work of the Secretary General of ASEAN and AHA Centre in delivering humanitarian assistance in Myanmar to all in need without discrimination. The Secretary-General of ASEAN and the AHA Centre should be empowered with some degree of autonomy to facilitate the humanitarian assistance in Myanmar.

“ASEAN is to call the UN and its external partners to support ASEAN in the efforts in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus,” the statement concluded. 

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press