"We urged Myanmar to take bolder steps toward a peaceful transition to democracy in the near future," the statement said.
The ten members of ASEAN, the region's main bloc, usually avoid interference in each other's domestic affairs, although that appears to be changing in a bid to give the group greater relevance.
ASEAN's statements reflect its deep frustrations with Myanmar's junta, which has kept Suu Kyi in detention for 12 of the last 18 years. ASEAN is also fed up with criticism from the international community for not putting enough pressure on Myanmar.
On Sunday, ASEAN foreign ministers issued their strongest rebuke yet, expressing "deep disappointment" that Myanmar's junta had extended Suu Kyi's detention.
Commenting on the border feud between Thailand and Cambodia, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned that ASEAN "could not stand idly by without damaging its credibility."
"The situation has escalated dangerously," Lee said.
The two countries are disputing an area near an ancient temple in Cambodia that was recently designated a World Heritage Site. Both countries have sent troops to the area and talks on Monday failed to resolve the dispute. Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh said progress was made but he acknowledged that tensions remain high.
In their statement Sunday, the ASEAN ministers urged the two nations to "exercise utmost restraint" in the dispute.
Other topics expected to be discussed at the five-day enclave in Singapore include North Korea's nuclear program, inflation and cooperation in disaster relief.
Asia may be a much more stable and peaceful region than before, but its "long-standing tensions and rivalries" give ASEAN an opportunity to play a useful role as "a neutral platform" for mediation, Lee said in his opening remarks.
"ASEAN is no longer just a talk shop, but a maturing community of nations," he said.
The ministerial conference of ASEAN will be followed by a series of meetings with counterparts from China, Japan and South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
It will culminate Thursday with the ASEAN Regional Forum, the premier security dialogue of Asia-Pacific between ASEAN and 16 other countries plus the European Union. It includes the United States and Russia.
On the sidelines of the forum will be the most keenly watched event: a meeting of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun and their counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea and Russia _ the participants in six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program.
It will be the highest-level meeting in the six-country negotiations, which began in 2003 with the aim of convincing North Korea to dismantle its nuclear program.
The ten members of ASEAN, the region's main bloc, usually avoid interference in each other's domestic affairs, although that appears to be changing in a bid to give the group greater relevance.
ASEAN's statements reflect its deep frustrations with Myanmar's junta, which has kept Suu Kyi in detention for 12 of the last 18 years. ASEAN is also fed up with criticism from the international community for not putting enough pressure on Myanmar.
On Sunday, ASEAN foreign ministers issued their strongest rebuke yet, expressing "deep disappointment" that Myanmar's junta had extended Suu Kyi's detention.
Commenting on the border feud between Thailand and Cambodia, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned that ASEAN "could not stand idly by without damaging its credibility."
"The situation has escalated dangerously," Lee said.
The two countries are disputing an area near an ancient temple in Cambodia that was recently designated a World Heritage Site. Both countries have sent troops to the area and talks on Monday failed to resolve the dispute. Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh said progress was made but he acknowledged that tensions remain high.
In their statement Sunday, the ASEAN ministers urged the two nations to "exercise utmost restraint" in the dispute.
Other topics expected to be discussed at the five-day enclave in Singapore include North Korea's nuclear program, inflation and cooperation in disaster relief.
Asia may be a much more stable and peaceful region than before, but its "long-standing tensions and rivalries" give ASEAN an opportunity to play a useful role as "a neutral platform" for mediation, Lee said in his opening remarks.
"ASEAN is no longer just a talk shop, but a maturing community of nations," he said.
The ministerial conference of ASEAN will be followed by a series of meetings with counterparts from China, Japan and South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
It will culminate Thursday with the ASEAN Regional Forum, the premier security dialogue of Asia-Pacific between ASEAN and 16 other countries plus the European Union. It includes the United States and Russia.
On the sidelines of the forum will be the most keenly watched event: a meeting of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun and their counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea and Russia _ the participants in six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program.
It will be the highest-level meeting in the six-country negotiations, which began in 2003 with the aim of convincing North Korea to dismantle its nuclear program.
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