Lazaro: ASEAN not easing approach to Myanmar

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has no plans to ease its implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) on Myanmar for now, despite proposals to allow the country's political leaders to participate again in high-level ASEAN meetings.

This was clarified by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, who also serves as the ASEAN 2026 Ministerial Chair and Special Envoy on Myanmar, following the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) on Saturday, November 14.

“To answer you bluntly, there is no easing. There’s still the five-point consensus,” Lazaro told a news conference.

Lazaro was asked specifically about Thailand’s proposal to allow Myanmar’s foreign minister to return to ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, following years of restrictions.

Since the military coup in Myanmar in 2021, ASEAN has limited the country’s participation in high-level meetings to non-political representatives, citing the lack of significant progress in implementing the Five-Point Consensus.

The Five-Point Consensus was adopted by ASEAN in 2021 to address the political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

The agreement calls for an immediate cessation of violence, inclusive dialogue among all parties concerned, mediation facilitated by an ASEAN special envoy, humanitarian assistance, and a visit by the special envoy to meet with all parties involved in the conflict.

However, its implementation remains a major challenge as armed conflict continues in Myanmar, along with a worsening humanitarian crisis.

According to Lazaro, several proposals have been raised by ASEAN member states as part of the ongoing review of the Five-Point Consensus, but no final decision has been reached on whether existing restrictions should be changed.

“There were of course a number of proposals,” Lazaro said.

She explained that a draft decision concerning the review of the Five-Point Consensus remains under negotiation and is expected to be brought before ASEAN leaders during their retreat at the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila.

Among the proposals still being discussed is the possibility of allowing Myanmar’s foreign minister to officially participate again in ASEAN ministerial meetings.

“There had been some kind of a proposal but I said there is no decision on that,” Lazaro said.

She also said that ASEAN foreign ministers had already met with Myanmar’s new foreign minister in Bangkok last July.

However, Lazaro clarified that the meeting does not automatically mean Myanmar’s foreign minister will be allowed to occupy the country’s seat at formal ASEAN ministerial meetings.

“It’s still there on the table. It’s still a subject of discussion,” Lazaro said.

For now, ASEAN’s existing restrictions on Myanmar’s political representation will remain in place unless member states agree to change the current policy.

The Myanmar crisis is expected to be among the key issues ASEAN leaders will discuss during the November 15 to 17 summit in Manila, as the regional bloc continues to seek ways to address the conflict, facilitate peace talks and advance the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. —VBL, GMA News