Malaysia warns Myanmar to cooperate with envoy or no summit

Malaysia’s foreign minister has warned that Myanmar may be excluded from a summit of Southeast Asian leaders this month if it refuses to cooperate with the bloc’s special envoy in resolving the military-ruled country’s deepening crisis

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysia's foreign minister warned Monday that Myanmar may be excluded from a summit of Southeast Asian leaders this month if it refuses to cooperate with the bloc's special envoy in resolving the military-ruled country's deepening crisis.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes Myanmar, picked Brunei’s Second Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof in August as their special envoy and mediator following a military takeover in February that toppled the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi. He is reportedly still negotiating with Myanmar's military on the terms of a visit.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said he expressed disappointment during a meeting Monday with his ASEAN counterparts that Myanmar's authorities have not cooperated with Yusof.

“Unless there is progress, it would be difficult to have" Myanmar's military leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing at the ASEAN summit later this month, he tweeted.