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SINGAPORE : ASEAN leaders have agreed to let Myanmar deal with the United Nations on its own.
However, Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, said the grouping stands ready to help resolve Myanmar's internal affairs if and when the country is ready.
Mr Lee was speaking after ASEAN leaders held a discussion at the end of the second day of the ASEAN summit in Singapore.
It was a meeting between old friends. But there were heavy issues to be dealt with, including Myanmar's suppression of pro-democracy activists.
After mulling over the topic for more than three hours, ASEAN leaders came out united to respect Myanmar's stand.
Mr Lee said: "Prime Minister Thein Sein made clear that the situation in Myanmar was a domestic affair and Myanmar was fully capable of handling the issue itself. He explained that Gambari had visited the country four times and Myanmar had implemented many of his proposals."
Except for Myanmar's prime minister, all the ASEAN leaders were present when Mr Lee spoke to the media.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said: "Myanmar's prime minister was not there (at the announcement of the joint statement after the dinner) because he chose not to be there, with the reasoning that this was not an ASEAN statement but a Chair statement, but the rest were there."
The 10 leaders decided that Dr Ibrahim Gambari, the United Nations special envoy to Myanmar, will not brief the leaders at the ASEAN summit nor the East-Asian Summit.
Instead, ASEAN leaders agreed that Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein himself has to explain to his ASEAN neighbours, on Tuesday, on the democratisation process in his country.
Still, Singapore as host, will facilitate briefings between Dr Gambari and any other interested parties.
Mr Lee said: "ASEAN stands ready to play a role whenever Myanmar wants it to do so. The leaders noted that the recent visits by Professor Gambari has resulted in several steps in the right direction.
"Most leaders expressed the view that Myanmar could not go back or stay put. The process of national reconciliation has moved forward and the UN has played a vital role in this process."
ASEAN also hopes that Myanmar will continue to work towards meeting the five goals laid out by the United Nations.
These include lifting restrictions on opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political detainees, and achieving economic stability for its people.
One way ASEAN hopes to help is through the regional economic integration in the long-term.
Mr Lee said: "I think right now the Myanmar issue is the hot issue. It is what the newspapers are focusing on, it is what the attention is on and how ASEAN is responding to it.
"But if we take a more detached and longer view of things, I think the ASEAN Charter and the ASEAN Economic Community which we are launching are in fact strategic moves which are going to have long-term implications for ASEAN."
Other main issues raised at the 13th ASEAN Summit include the finalisation of the ASEAN Charter and the ASEAN economic blueprint. - CNA/de
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