Jakarta - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members have agreed to sponsor an international conference to boost global commitment to assist Myanmar in mitigating the impact of Cyclone Nargis that devastated many cities in the country early this month.

The conference to be attended by representatives from the international community would be held in Yangon on May 23, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said in a phone interview with ANTARA from Singapore on Monday.

"The detailed plan for the conference is still under discussion," he said after attending a special ASEAN foreign ministers meeting on mitigating the impact of the cyclone.

Myanmar has closed itself to foreign relief aid, volunteers and journalists since the cyclone hit the country so that the international community does not know exactly about the post-cyclone condition in the country and its needs to overcome the impact of the natural disaster.

At the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting, Myanmar also agreed to receive an ASEAN natural disaster mitigation task force.

Hassan described the change in Myanmar's stance as a major breakthrough saying so far there seemed to be a missing link between the world community's enthusiasm to extend relief aid and the Myanmarese government's decision to close itself to foreign aid.

He said the agreement reached at the meeting also indicated ASEAN's credibility in the eyes of the world community.

"The outcome of this meeting shows that ASEAN is able to answer the world community's anxiety," he said.

He expressed optimism the effort of overcoming the impact of the cyclone would run well after ASEAN member countries reached the agreement.

- Source : Antara News Agency, 20 May 2008