This was aside from the approval of Myanmar Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Soe Win to a visit of Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to his territory.
The sources said the Myanmar leader sought out Mrs. Arroyo and asked for a formal meeting.
The sources disclosed that though there was no formal bilateral discussion, the two leaders spoke on the sidelines of the ASEAN and other summits here.
"They had lengthy and serious discussions about the issues twice and they openly and frankly talked about the UN briefing," a source said.
"He (Soe Win) accepted it. That is the only way for Myanmar to explain itself to the world. Maybe they will understand the situation better," the source said, referring to the UN briefing.
The final decision, however, will still come from Myanmar.
The international community has been pressing ASEAN to drop its kid-glove treatment of Myanmar and press Yangon for democratic reforms and free all its detainees, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The sources said Soe Win did not ask Mrs. Arroyo to reconsider its decision and defend it before the UN against the criticisms of other regional groupings attacking it.
The sources noted Myanmar appeared to be getting the point even without outright threats of sanctions. — Aurea Calica