BANGKOK, June 10 (Kyodo) — Myanmar's neighbor countries in Southeast Asia and international donor agencies and countries appealed to the country's generals Wednesday to widen the door for representatives of international aid agencies to deliver assistance to the people still suffering after Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar more than a year ago.

At a meeting between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes Myanmar, and U.N. agencies, international financial institutions and potential donor countries in Bangkok they shared a common concern over delays by the Myanmar junta to permit personnel from international agencies to enter the Irrawaddy delta area hardest hit by the cyclone.

The groups are discussing further recovery assistance for some 2.4 million victims of the cyclone.

"We would like to seek a clarification and new assurance from the government of Myanmar that from now onward we will have full support, full access and we will have full coordination in order to deliver our international assistance into Myanmar (and) into the delta," said Surin Pitsuwan, the ASEAN secretary general.

He added ASEAN would eventually appeal the international community for support and contributions to help the needy in Myanmar.

It has been estimated $691 million is needed to revive the livelihoods of the cyclone victims, according to William Sabandar, an ASEAN special envoy on humanitarian efforts.

Since last year, $315 million has been spent on relief efforts, he added.

Surin said the international community was able to carry out humanitarian assistance in the affected area up to some eight months after the disaster.

But the junta apparently argues the "emergency" is over and there is no need to allow foreign assistance to enter Myanmar through a "special" channel.

The generals want all foreign aid to be processed through "national agencies," which are considered to be corrupt, rather than through a special mechanism called the "Tripartite Core Group" consisting of the representatives from the junta, ASEAN and the United Nations.

Donors also expressed a common concern the ongoing trial of Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi could discourage them from providing more humanitarian assistance to Myanmar.

"They didn't make it a condition. They said it affects the mood, the enthusiasm, the consideration," said Surin, referring to the trial.

Suu Kyi and two female companions are charged with violating the terms of her house arrest after an American intruder swam to her lakeside home in Yangon on May 3 and stayed there for two days.

Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest since 2003, now faces a maximum five-year jail term if found guilty.

The trial, which has drawn condemnation from the international community, is being held at Yangon's notorious Insein Prison, where Suu Kyi has been incarcerated since May 14.