PHNOM PENH – Tuesday’s statement by Cambodia’s Prime Minster Hun Sen stated that he has invited Myanmar’s junta chief, on condition that he makes progress on a peace agreement he reached last year.

Hun Sen, currently ASEAN chairperson, stated that he would speak to Min Aung Hlaing, military chief, via video on Wednesday. Hun Sen noted that Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced earlier in the month and military aircraft have been used for operational purposes.

Min Aung Hlaing led a coup in Myanmar last year and ASEAN made a surprise move in barring https://reut.rs/3n0roOZ the junta from important meetings, over its failure to implement an agreed five-point ASEAN “consensus” on ceasing hostilities and allowing dialogue.

“He (Hun Sen), stated that he invited HE [His Excellency] Min Aung Hlaing” to the ASEAN summit, if progress was made in the implementation the five points unanimously agreed upon,” said Hun Sen on Facebook (NASDAQ.) Page. This statement summarized his Tuesday call with Malaysia’s prime Minister.

“But, if he does not send one, he should send another non-political representative.”

Although Cambodia indicated that it is willing to engage and not isolate the junta’s leadership, Hun Sen was pressed by many ASEAN leaders, including Indonesian, Malaysian, and Singaporean, to not abandon the deal.

Hun Sen’s Jan. 7 visit to Myanmar https://reut.rs/3ngcp4w has been a thorny issue for some countries concerned it could have been interpreted as ASEAN recognition of the generals.

ASEAN Consensus, which provides a halt to offensives and facilitates a humanitarian response. It also grants full access to an ASEAN special envoy to all conflict parties.