Tun Mon Thet (NSS) – July 13 

Although, till Thursday, the ASEAN leaders cannot release a statement over Myanmar issue including Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai’s announcement meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi on previous Sunday, Myanmar’s State Administration Council confirms the meeting between Suu Kyi and Thai FM. 

The spokesperson of the State Administration Council (SAC), Major General Zaw Min Tun, informed the Myanmar news media this afternoon (13th July) that Foreign Minister of Thailand and the former State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi who is currently detained at the Naypyidaw Prison in a separate unit with well condition. 

The meeting took almost one and half hours but was not disclosed what topics were discussed by Suu Kyi and the Thai FM. 

The spokesperson said, “Thai Foreign Minister arrived in Myanmar on 9th July. He met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on that day. It was the Four-Eye Meeting. It took nearly one and half hours.”

The State Administration Council said they don’t know details what Suu Kyi and Thai FM discussed in the meeting as Major General Zaw Min Tun said, “Since they were allowed to speak independently and no one was involved in it, she (Suu Kyi) got chance to talk independently to the Thai Foreign Minister. We don’t know details of their meeting.”

On the other hand, the 10-member Association for Southeast Asian Nations is struggling for unity over tackling Myanmar issue. 

Thailand Foreign Minister announced that he met with Suu Kyi on 9th July to the ASEAN leaders yesterday at the Senior Officer Meeting. Yet, the bloc cannot release a joint communique. The Indonesian foreign ministry said a joint communique would be issued that day. 

Meetings with high rank diplomats from China, Russia, the United States and other major partners will also be held this week with the bloc. 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese diplomat Wang Yi potentially attend the bloc’s meeting this evening.