Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Mekong Countries Call for Fair Elections in Burma

   VOA News 30 October 2010
   Burma's  Prime  Minister  Thein  Sein  attends the ASEAN 5th East Asia
   Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, 30 Oct 2010

Photo: AP

   Japan  and  the Southeast Asian countries on the Mekong River issued a
   joint statement Friday calling for free and fair elections in Burma.
   The  Mekong  summit, which met on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in
   Vietnam's  capital  Hanoi,  also  called  for  the Korean Peninsula to
   become a nuclear-free zone.
   The  group,  including  Cambodia,  Laos,  Thailand, Burma and Vietnam,
   issued  an action plan calling for Japanese economic aid and technical
   help  to  develop  transportation  and  energy resources in the Mekong
   River region, while protecting its environment.
   United  Nations  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in Hanoi
   Friday  that  it is not too late for a credible, democratic transition
   in  Burma,  which  is  planning  to  hold  controversial  elections on
   November 7.

.