Leaders of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) closed their summit Wednesday with a unanimous call for the West to lift sanctions immediately against Myanmar following that nation's "free, fair and transparent" by-elections. "All ASEAN leaders appeal to the relevant parties to lift sanctions," said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. "The leaders of ASEAN feel very satisfied and pleased with the election." ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan added his hope that the traditionally close relationship between North Korea and ASEAN chair Cambodia could reduce tensions on the Korean peninsula, according to a report of DPA. ASEAN said commitments emanating from the summit should reduce the development gap between its members, garner finance to pay for key projects, better the position of migrant workers, and improve its disaster management response. The ASEAN members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
