Russian Foreign Minister Affirms Support For ASEAN To Solve Crisis In Myanmar

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. (Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - Russia strongly supports Southeast Asia's diplomatic efforts to end the crisis in Myanmar and has conveyed a similar message to the leaders of the country's military regime.

This was conveyed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in a press statement, after meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta, Tuesday, July 6.

The five consensus points agreed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc should be the basis on which the situation can be resolved, Lavrov said.

"In our contacts with Myanmar leaders, military leaders, we are promoting ASEAN's position which in our view should be considered as a basis for resolving this crisis and bringing the situation back to normal," Lavrov said, citing Reuters on Tuesday, July 6.

"Minister Lavrov will hold virtual talks with his ASEAN counterparts, during a visit to Jakarta," said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

Lavrov's comments are significant and come amid deepening engagement between Russia and Myanmar, as global powers sanction businesses and leaders of Myanmar's military regime and call for a global ban on arms sales to the country.

Myanmar has been in crisis since the military toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government on February 1, sparking national outrage that quickly turned into protests and strikes that were brutally suppressed by security forces.

Fighting between the army and newly formed militias in some areas has displaced tens of thousands of people. Data from the Aid Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said 892 civilians were killed and 6,513 people were detained, with 5,085 of them having been released as of July 5.

Although the leader of the Myanmar military regime Senior General Min Aung Hlaing approved the ASEAN peace plan reached in April, the military has shown no intention to follow through and has instead repeated its own completely different plan to restore order and democracy.

ASEAN's efforts call for dialogue between all parties, the appointment of special envoys, greater humanitarian access and an end to violence as it stands without significant progress. Making Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore regret the situation that occurred.

While it has expressed concern about the violence in Myanmar, Russia, its main supplier of weapons and military training, is one of the few countries that has recognized the military regime and has sent top ministerial-level officials to meet regime leaders.

For information, last month Russia welcomed the leader of the Myanmar military regime, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and a military delegation during a visit to Moscow to take part in a defense industry exhibition, a speech to receive an honorary professor title.

The Myanmar Coup. The editor of VOI continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Civilian casualties continued to fall. Readers can follow news about the Myanmar military coup by tapping this link.