DR. Rice snubs ASEAN meeting; first Secy of State in 20 years to miss it

[Bluebear]

VIENTIANE, July 25 (Bernama) -- United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's absence from the 12th Asean Regional Forum (ARF) this week has been described as "unfortunate" because it will reduce Washington's ability to interact with Asean.

"It may be turn out to be a miscalculation on her part," United Nations Special Envoy to Myanmar Tan Sri Razali Ismail said Monday.

Rice, who was appointed US state secretary last November, announced early this month that she is skipping the meeting with the other 23 members of ARF, including the European Union, China and Japan, citing problems in West Asia.

Razali said: "Looking back, one of these days she's going to regret (her decision) not to come. What is the signal that America is giving here.

"You may not like somebody but this is an organisational meeting. That she is not here reduces the ability of the US to interact with Asean to deal with issues including with Myanmar even if informally," he told reporters here.
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=147010
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Washington (VNA) - A New York Times editorial of July 25 has described United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's decision not to attend the 12th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) as a lack of concern for Southeast Asia.

The editorial states "On her recent visit to Thailand, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she was there to show that she cares about Southeast Asia. If so, skipping this week's meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a bad way to show it. No American secretary of state has missed the annual ASEAN meeting in more than two decades."

Meanwhile, United Nations Special Envoy to Myanmar Tan Sri Razali Ismail was quoted by the Malaysian News Agency (Bernama) on July 25 as considering Rice's absence from the 12th ARF as "unfortunate" because it would reduce Washington's ability to interact with ASEAN.

"It may turn out to be a miscalculation on her part," he said.

The 12th ASEAN Regional Forum will be held in Vientiane, Laos, on July 28-29.-Enditem

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=147010

[babylonsister]

1. She just continues to

impress me. :sarcasm:
I hate to keep thinking I'm not surprised, but I'm not. Another low standard accomplished by this lot.

[Bluebear]

2. USA! USA!

:eyes: