Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, speaks during a welcome dinner for ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Phnom Penh on February 16, 2022. Photo: AFP

The Association of South East Asian Nations’ foreign minister summit begins today in Cambodia without the participation of a representative from the Myanmar junta.

The Myanmar junta has taken umbrage at the position of the ASEAN chair over the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (AMM Retreat) in Phnom Penh on 17 February.

In a statement issued earlier by Myanmar State Administrative Council, the junta’s governing body, it said they expressed concern over the decision made concerning the inclusion of only a non-political representative at the talks.

The junta said in a statement on 14 February: “Despite the efforts made by the ASEAN Chair and Myanmar to promote cooperation in ASEAN, it is regrettable to see the return of the decision made last year which Myanmar in principle is unable to accept. In this regard, Myanmar’s inability to participate or even designate a non-political representative to the AMM Retreat which will be held on 17 February 2022 is inevitable since it contradicts the principles and practice of equal representation in ASEAN.

“Myanmar, while upholding the principle of equality as stipulated in the ASEAN Charter, will continue to extend constructive engagement with the current ASEAN Chair, including with all ASEAN Member States,” the Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.