YANGON, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar has instructed the Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Myanmar, Elisio do Rosario de Sousa, to leave the country by Feb. 20, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar on Sunday.
The ministry summoned the diplomat on Feb. 13, ordering his departure from Myanmar territory no later than Feb. 20 under Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The ministry stated that recent actions by Timor-Leste regarding Myanmar are a "blatant violation" of the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, specifically regarding sovereignty and non-interference.
Despite the expulsion, the ministry reiterated that Myanmar remains committed to maintaining friendly relations with all countries based on mutual respect and the ASEAN Charter. ■