Burma: Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting Chairman's Statement
The Foreign Ministers of ASEAN met in Singapore on 19 May 2008 to discuss how we could assist Myanmar in the aftermath
of Cyclone Nargis. We expressed our sympathy and deep concern over the massive loss of lives and devastation caused by
Cyclone Nargis on 2-3 May 2008 and reaffirmed our support for the people of Myanmar in overcoming this grave
humanitarian disaster.
The Foreign Ministers recognized with appreciation, the outpouring of goodwill and strong determination of the
international community to help the victims of Cyclone Nargis. The Foreign Ministers have agreed to establish an
ASEAN-led coordinating mechanism. Drawing from the Indonesian experience during the 2004 Tsunami, this mechanism will
facilitate the effective distribution and utilization of assistance from the international community, including the
expeditious and effective deployment of relief workers, especially health and medical personnel. International
assistance to Myanmar, given through ASEAN, should not be politicised. On that basis, Myanmar will accept international
assistance.
To this end, the Ministers agreed to establish a Task Force, to be headed by ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan,
which will work closely with the UN as well as a central coordinating body to be set up by Myanmar, to realize this
ASEAN-led mechanism. The meeting agreed that this ASEAN-led approach was the best way forward.
For a start, the Myanmar Government has agreed to accept the immediate despatch of medical teams from all the ASEAN
countries. ASEAN has sent an Emergency Rapid Assessment Team to Myanmar and is ready to provide additional support.
Myanmar should allow more international relief workers into the stricken areas, as the need is most urgent, given the
unprecedented scale of the humanitarian disaster.
The international community also stands ready to assist and provide additional resources to alleviate the situation.
Myanmar is also prepared to accept the expertise of international and regional agencies to help in its rehabilitation
efforts. ASEAN will work with the UN to hold an ASEAN-UN International Pledging Conference, to be held in Yangon on 25
May 2008.
ENDS