Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 15 – As incoming ASEAN chairman, Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen pledged to uphold ASEAN charter and principles.

The premier also reaffirmed that he will not bypass nor violate the principles and charter of ASEAN, speaking at the inauguration of the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh Hotel on Wednesday.

“As a chairman of ASEAN, it is not right to not invite all ASEAN members to attend meetings. ASEAN should be 10 not 9. The situation in Myanmar is one thing, but reunifying ASEAN is the most important thing,” the premier said.

He continued that “it will form a bad habit for another ASEAN chairman to not invite any member that they do not like. Such action is contrary to the principle of ASEAN.”

ASEAN charter states that ASEAN has no rights to expel any member and that ASEAN's decision is made in the spirit of consensus.

“ASEAN can not reach consensus with 9 members,” premier Hun Sen said.

Myanmar has been absent from the 2021 ASEAN summit after facing nearly a year of internal political crisis since the military-led coup on 1 February.
=FRESH NEWS