950803

Japan urges

Burma to

move toward

democracy

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Brunei: Japan on Thursday urged Burma's military regime to "proceed towards democracy" and improve human rights.

While welcoming the release of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono warned that unless Burma made progress on these fronts "the harsh assessment of the world will remain unchanged".

He was speaking at a news conference following a meeting between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its so-called dialogue partners - the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the European Union.

The meeting was preceded by a two-day meeting of ASEAN members Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam over the weekend and the 19-member meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum, Asia's premier security conference.

Kono said Japan has been encouraged by Burma's release of an increasing number of political prisoners, including the "symbolically important" freeing of Suu Kyi last month after six years of house arrest.-Reuter