(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-08 22:35

JAKARTA -- Indonesia on Thursday confirmed that ASEAN countries would not impose sanctions against Myanmar, Indonesian Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said here.

The spokesman told a press conference after a meeting of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo at the presidential palace.

During the meeting, they discussed the issue of Myanmar and the preparation of the ASEAN Summit in Singapore in the middle of this month, Dino said.

"There is no tradition of sanctions in ASEAN. So far, there have been almost no applying of sanctions on ASEAN member countries. Forthis mater (Myanmar issue), ASEAN will not impose sanctions," he said.

The spokesman said that it was expected that all member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Myanmar, will sign a charter of ASEAN that would bind all it members.

Dino said that the Singaporean foreign minister had already visited Tokyo and Beijing before arriving in Jakarta. He will then continue his visit to New Delhi of India.

The visits are aimed at seeking support from the countries in an effort to settle the dispute in Myanmar, he said.

Indonesian President Susilo also stressed the importance to support the UN special envoy to Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari, said Dino.

Gambari's visit is part of a six-nation consultation tour of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China and Japan to find a peaceful solution to the Myanmar situation.

ASEAN countries comprise Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.