Asean-US summit

Leaders agree Myanmar election must be free and fair

Article published on the 2009-11-15 Latest update 2009-11-16 17:05 TU

The Asean-US meeting in Singapore on 15 November
(Photo: Reuters)

US President Barack Obama and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations took part in their first summit on Sunday. They agreed that elections in Myanmar in 2010 must be “free, fair, inclusive and transparent”. Obama also called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Obama joined ten other Asean leaders including Myanmar’s Prime Minister Thein Sein during his first trip to Asia in Singapore this weekend.

He used the occasion to urge Myanmar to hold free and fair elections next year, while a joint statement welcomed his position, saying that engagement with Myanmar was important for “national reconciliation”.

Obama also demanded freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi, offering the opportunity for improved relations in exchange.

Correspondent Carrie Nooten told RFI that he "raised the issue of the release to General Thien Sein" and although it was a secretive meeting, it was apparently "very balanced".

Surin Pitsuwan, the Asean Secretary-General, said that the US is “taking the relationship seriously at the highest levels,” adding that a, “momentum” had been created.

Obama is hoping that the promise of a better relationship will encourage Myanmar to reform, although he made it clear that sanctions would remain in place until that happened.

The meeting on Sunday is the first time a US President has met all ten leaders from the Asean group at the same time.