TOKYO. Dec 11 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will very likely" grant membership to Myanmar. Laos and Cambodia next year. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said in an Interview with a Japanese newspaper published today, reports AFP

"ft is very likely it will come next year ' Mahathir said In an interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun and the English language Yomiuri Daily when asked when ASEAN would be expanded to Include the three nations.

Mahathir, whose country will assume the chairmanship of the seven nation regional grouping in 1997 on its 30th anniversary, also said he would like to invite the leaders of Japan. South Korea and China to an Informal ASEAN summit likely to be held at the end of next year the newspapers said

ASEAN groups Brunei. In donesia. Malaysia, the Philippines. Singapore. Thailand and Vietnam.

Its leaders agreed at a meet ing in Jakarta on November 30 to extend membership to Myanmar. Laos and Cambodia simultaneously, but stopped short of setting a date due to

conflict over the timing of Myanmar s admission

Mahathir told the daily the size of the demonstrations had not dampened his support for Myanmars admission to ASEAN

"For instance, we see other countries worse than Myanmar accepted to the United Nations ' he said