Relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Europe are moving forward. The fact that foreign ministers from the two blocs held their two-day meeting in Vientiane, Laos, last week is a sign of progress. The relationship had been frozen for two years amid mounting acrimony. Divisions between the two groups are still wide, but they have a better chance of resolving their differences if they are talking to each other rather than at each other.
The cause of the standoff was ASEAN's decision to admit Myanmar to the group three years ago. The policies of the Yangon government -- its human-rights abuses, suppression of democracy and involvement in illegal activities -- obliged European Union governments to protest its presence at meetings. ASEAN governments rallied around their organization's integrity -- their right to include whoever they chose -- and its guiding principle of noninterference in the domestic affairs of members. As a result, ministerial-level dialogue between ASEAN and the EU stalled.
This year, Myanmar made its way to the meeting. Its delegates were at the table, and Yangon's policies were on the table. Indeed, the issue hung over all the talks. Fortunately, the two sides were able to work out a suitable compromise.