ASEAN spurned international pressure yesterday and decided to admit Burma, along with Cambodia and Laos, next month.
Under an expansion programme that realises the dreams of its founders 30 years ago, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chose long-term strategic considerations to bring the trio into the fold at the group's annual meeting on July 24 and 25.
While the countries involved hailed the decision, taken by ASEAN foreign ministers during a two-hour meeting in Kuala Lumpur, critics warned it would mean more repression of Burma's pro-democracy forces.
Despite some murmurs of discontent within the group before the meeting, ministers quickly reached agreement, saying it was time to achieve the goal of an ASEAN 10 - the seven existing members plus the new partners.
'It was unanimous - there were no reservations on the part of any member,' ASEAN chairman, Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi, said.
Declaring that 'all factors' had been taken into account, Mr Badawi said they believed it would be better for ASEAN and the region if Burma was a member of the grouping.
The decision was firm and 'non-reversible', he added.