Transcript of doorstop interview of Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo with Kyodo News, Gaimusho, Tokyo, 27 October 2007, 1700 hrs

Min: ....Minister Koumura for seeing me on Saturday and for waiting for my arrival because I was trapped in Beijing. Because of the fog, the airport was closed but we had a good discussion on Myanmar and how the countries in the region can work together to help create an atmosphere constructive for national reconciliation. We have to give maximum support to Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari. We talked about the coming East Asia Summit in Singapore on 21st November when all the countries close to Myanmar will be attending: ASEAN, China, Japan and India. So it is a good occassion for us to support this process of dialogue and national reconciliation.

Q: Did you agree on any more specific on how to cooperate, like what to do from now on?

Min: I think we had a meeting of minds on all the main issues that what we seek is not a regime change but a change of policy and one which brings in all parties so that a way forward to the future can be found so we have got to work with the military, and the military have got to work with Aung San Suu Kyi and all the other parties. There's been some progress but this is just the beginning and in the end there must be clear outcomes which bring the various parties together. As neighbouring countries, we will be affected if Myanmar dissolves into chaos so we have a very strong interest in seeing stability and progress leading to democracy and development and Minister Koumura and I agreed that in this, it is very important for Japan and ASEAN and also Japan and Singapore to work closely together and in the larger sense, ASEAN, China, Japan and India should work closely together, then our chances of success become more favourable.

Q: Minister Yeo, how do you see the current situation in Myanmar, it seems that there was a first dialogue between the Junta and Ms Aung San Suu Kyi the other day. Is it going towards a positive direction or it's still....

Min: These are positive indicators. Even the Government's own Statements show a greater willingness to engage. I think they made an effort here in this meeting between General Aung Kyi and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. It appears now that Ibrahim Gambari will be going back in early November and I hope that while he is there, he can meet all the parties that he wants to meet and help bring about and help catalyse further progress in the internal developments.

Q: What is your take about especially US Bush administration calling Japanese government and other international communities to take more strong measures on Myanmar?

Min: Well, whatever we do, we have to help bring about a good outcome and, whatever we do should strengthen Gambari's mission, not weaken it or complicate it. That's the key so I can understand why among the western countries, they feel a need to take action and to increase sanctions but I hope that the actions they take have in mind the strategic objective we are talking about.

Q: At the onset of the meeting....

Min: So for example, Japan has been very calibrated in its response, cutting off grant aid but at the same time, maintaining humanitarian aid and signalling that it wishes to remain engaged with Myanmar because there is a lot of affection among Japanese people for the people of Myanmar.

Q: At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Koumura mentioned about he was interested in knowing what China's stance was and you went to Beijing before you came to Tokyo. What did you convey to Minister Koumura and what was his response?

Min: I had a good meeting and lunch with Mr Yang Jiechi. We talked generally and we agreed that both China and ASEAN have common interests and similar positions but we play different roles. China is a friend of ASEAN. ASEAN is family and there's a problem within the family, but China as a friend, like Japan as a friend, can play a helpful role. So we had a good discussion and a good meeting of minds. Thank you very much.

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