By VOA News Burma's military government has ratified the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' new charter, which commits ASEAN members to observe

(ROME) - The European Union's special envoy for Myanmar, Piero Fassino, on Monday welcomed the military regime's decision to sign a charter that commits it

[JURIST] Myanmar signed on [ceremony speech] to a new Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) [official website] charter Monday, despite other ASEAN

Military-ruled Burma yesterday formally ratified the ASEAN charter, though many observers doubted the junta will live up to the document's ideals on democracy and human rights.
Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win presented his country's ratification during an annual meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Singapore.
nternationally for its delay in allowing foreign aid into the country after the May 2-3 cyclone that left 138,000 people dead or missing.

By Ian Timberlake July 21: Military-ruled Burma on Monday formally ratified the Asean Charter but observers doubted the junta will live up to the document’s

SINGAPORE (AP) - Myanmar needs at least $1 billion over the next three years to put the survivors of Cyclone Nargis back on their feet, a U.N.-led report said Monday in the first comprehensive assessment of damage caused by the disaster that killed more than 84,000 people.
The May 2-3 cyclone caused damage estimated at $4 billion, said the report prepared by the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the military junta that governs Myanmar. Damage to assets was determined to be about $1.7 billion and loss of income was estimated at $2.3 billion.
w foreign relief workers in and pictures of bodies floating in the water amid reports that soldiers were

SINGAPORE - Southeast Asian nations issued their strongest rebuke ever to military-ruled Myanmar before opening an annual security meeting Monday amid a bubbling border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.
The foreign ministers of the 10 countries that form the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will also discuss North Korea's nuclear program, inflation and cooperation in disaster relief at their five-day enclave.
ns," he said.

Singapore - Burma ratified the charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Monday and vowed to uphold its democratic ideals, but dashed hopes of releasing opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi within the next six months.
The country, vilified for its dictatorial government and human rights abuses, became the seventh of the 10-member regional grouping to ratify the document, which was signed by the leaders in November last year.
owards a peaceful transition to democracy in the near future," and work towards the holding of free and fair general elections in 2010," said the minister's communique at the end of the meeting.

Burma: A senior figure in the military junta has suggested that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi could be freed from house arrest in about six months.
Burma's Foreign Minister Nyan Win made the hint at a dinner attended by all the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
o inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

The Myanmar ruling military has hinted that it might release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in six months time. But critics argue the words are just empty rhetoric.
Al Jazeera's Hannah Belche...
ion - 19 Jul 08

By Shamim Adam July 21 (Bloomberg) - Southeast Asian foreign ministers meeting today may focus on diffusing tensions over a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, and will deliver an assessment of humanitarian efforts to victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar.
Thailand and Cambodia have sent more troops to a disputed border region near an 11th century temple called Preah Vihear, according to media reports. Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in Singapore were briefed on developments yesterday, and urged the two sides to find ways to ``defuse the situation.''
oup, has long been criticized by Western nations for failing to press Myanmar to restore democracy and censure the junta for inflicting alleged human rights abuses.

Myanmar's military government has hinted that it could free Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's detained opposition leader, within six months.
The suggestion, reportedly made by Myanmar's foreign minister, Nyan Win, came as members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) issued a strong rebuke expressing their "deep disappointment" at Aung San Suu Kyi's continued house arrest.
a pre-summit dinner on Sunday that under Myanmar law a political detainee can be held for a maximum period of only six years.

Foreign ministers from the Association of South East Asian Nations - have expressed "deep disappointment" over the extension of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's detention.
"The foreign ministers expressed their deep disappointment that Aung San Suu Kyi's detention under house arrest had been extended by the Myanmar [Burmese] government," Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said in a statement.
towards a peaceful transition to democracy in the near future," Mr Yeo said.

SINGAPORE (AFP) - Southeast Asian foreign ministers urged Thailand and Cambodia to show restraint in a border dispute, and urged Myanmar to free all political prisoners, as annual talks began Sunday night.
Ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) began their talks over dinner while two of its members, Thailand and Cambodia, were locked in an armed standoff over a border temple, and after rogue member Myanmar extended opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest.
Yeo said in a statement.

SINGAPORE (AP) - Myanmar's military junta has indicated to its Southeast Asian neighbors that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi could be freed from house arrest in about six months, Singapore's foreign minister said Sunday.
The hint came as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations expressed "deep disappointment" at the decision by the junta in May to extend Suu Kyi's detention by another year. It was an unusually frank criticism of Myanmar by the region's main bloc, whose members usually stick to a policy of not interfering in each other's affairs.
or the foreign ministers of the ten member countries of ASEAN.