NUSA DUA, Indonesia - US President Barack Obama said on Friday he saw "flickers of progress" in Myanmar, dispatching Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for a historic visit that could draw the country out of half a century of global isolation.
Obama, in Indonesia for a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders, said he had spoken for the first time withMyanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who told him she supported more US engagement with the country also known as Burma.
In another indication of change in Myanmar, Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, re-registered on Friday to contest a series of by-elections for vacant parliamentary seats. This follows amendments to electoral laws and brings Suu Kyi a step closer to returning to politics.
Obama said the release of political prisoners, relaxing of media restrictions and signs of legislative change in recent weeks were "the most important steps toward reform in Burma that we've seen in years".
Clinton's two-day visit from Dec. 1 would be the first by a US Secretary of State since a 1962 military coup ushered in 50 years of unbroken military rule that ended in March when a nominally civilian parliament was established.
Since then, the new government has called for peace with ethnic minority groups, displayed some tolerance of criticism, suspended an unpopular Chinese-funded dam project, freed about 230 political prisoners and reached out to Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate freed last year from 15 years of detention.
"We want to seize what could be a historic opportunity for progress and make it clear that if Burmacontinues to travel down the road of democratic reform, it can forge a new relationship with the United States of America," Obama said.
"If Burma fails to move down the path of reform, it will continue to face sanctions and isolation. But if it seizes this moment, then reconciliation can prevail," Obama said.
Human rights
Many Western governments have expressed caution that more must be done for Myanmar's reforms to be considered credible. As early as Oct. 17, for instance, Derek Mitchell, special US envoy forMyanmar, said there were "credible reports" of continuing human rights abuses against women and children.
Clinton is scheduled to meet Suu Kyi and visit Yangon and the capital Naypyitaw. She will "explore whether the United States can empower a positive transition in Burma and begin a new chapter between our countries", Obama said.
Myanmar welcomed the visit.
"It's a very good sign," Ko Ko Hlaing, chief political adviser to Myanmar's president, told Reuters. "I think it is a significant turn in US policy towards Myanmar ... people in Myanmar will welcome, cheer Hillary Clinton because for a time in history, they have never seen a secretary of state."
With sanctions blocking Western investments, China has emerged as Myanmar's biggest ally, investing in infrastructure, hydropower dams and twin oil-and-gas pipelines to help feed southern China's growing energy needs.
Bilateral trade rose more than half last year to $4.4 billion, and China's investment in Myanmarreached $12.3 billion in 2010, according to Chinese figures, with a strong focus on natural resources and energy.
But the relationship has been strained, with a long history of resentment of China among the Burmese population and fierce public opposition to a Chinese-built dam at Myitsone that prompted Myanmar President Thein Sein to shelve the project last month, a move that stunned Beijing.
A U.S. official said the Obama administration "fully expects" China to welcome US engagement withMyanmar and the United States would consult China closely on its engagement with the Southeast Asian country.
China is wary of greater US influence in the region, especially in countries on its border, as Myanmaris, but the US decision to engage with Myanmar should not be seen as an attempt to contain China, the US official said, adding that a stable Myanmar was in China's interests.
"It's about Burma, not about China," the official said.
When Obama took office in 2009, he made reaching out to American adversaries a signature part of his foreign policy approach. That included an effort early to engage with Iran.
But the administration took a cautious approach on Myanmar because of its human rights record. Obama requested a policy review on Myanmar, paving the way for the recent diplomacy.
US officials said that Obama spoke to Suu Kyi during his flight on Thursday from Australia to Bali.
The 20-minute call was the first time they had talked and he told her he had long admired her democratic struggle. They described it as a meaningful but friendly conversation in which Suu Kyi also asked about Obama's family dog.
He asked for her ideas on how to approach her country.
"She encouraged the president to make clear to Burma's leaders that the U.S. will be willing to work with them if they are in fact demonstrating that they are willing to work with the world and her," one US official said.
Obama is not scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Thein Sein but will see him in Bali at a East Asia Summit.
Southeast Asian nations endorsed Myanmar on Thursday for the chairmanship of its regional grouping in 2014, gambling that the country can stick to reforms begun this year. The United States respected that decision, a US official said.
BRUSSELS - The European Union said on Friday a decision by the party ofMyanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to take part in upcoming by-elections was "encouraging", and said a review of its policy toward the reclusive Asian nation was under way.
A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urged Myanmar to release more dissidents, but said it was already looking at whether reforms there could justify a further easing of sanctions.
"We hope that these elections are conducted in a fair and transparent manner. This would be yet another step towards national conciliation," spokesman Michael Mann said.
Mann hailed the "encouraging, positive developments" in the country and expressed hope they would continue, "including a further substantial release of political prisoners."
"The EU has always stated that it will respond to positive events in the country. The restrictive measures have already been partly modified in April," he said, referring to EU sanctions. "A more substantial review of EU policy is already under way."
Ashton sent her top foreign policy adviser to Myanmar earlier this year, and the EU slightly eased sanctions in April by suspending enforcement of travel bans and asset freezes on 24 civilian government officials to encourage reform.
The new government has called for peace with minority groups, displayed some tolerance of criticism, suspended an unpopular Chinese-funded dam project, freed about 230 political prisoners and somewhat improved relations with Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate who was freed last year after 15 years of detention.
However, large numbers of political prisoners remain and EU officials have said they would wait to see how many were actually freed, when judging the government's sincerity.
One EU diplomat said his country was still taking a wait-and-see attitude. "Although the military government has given way to a so-called civilian government, it still seems that this may be window-dressing and we would like to see some results."
NUSA DUA - Japan told Myanmar on Friday that it wants to soon start working-level talks that could lead to the resumption of full-fledged development aid, following reforms in the long-isolated country.
However, Japan also urged Myanmar to release more political prisoners to continue a series of changes since the army nominally handed over power in March to civilians after the first elections in two decades.
Japan froze new official development assistance (ODA) to the country in 2003, while continuing humanitarian aid. In June, it lifted its ban on new ODA, but has fallen short of resuming full-fledged aid for infrastructure projects.
At a bilateral meeting with President Thein Sein in Indonesia, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Nodawelcomed Myanmar's recent reforms towards democracy, including Friday's decision by the party of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to contest upcoming by-elections.
"At the same time, Prime Minister Noda expressed hope for the release of more political prisoners (inMyanmar)," Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tsuyoshi Saito told reporters.
Japan has distanced itself from the policy of Western powers, which have imposed tough sanctions onMyanmar, and from that of China, which has pumped billions of dollars into the country. It prefers engagement and dialogue to push for democracy in the country.
President Thein Sein told Noda that Myanmar hoped for Japan's ODA assistance for infrastructure projects, but Japan's premier stopped short of promising specific aid at the summit, he added.
Recent overtures by Myanmar's new civilian government have included calls for peace with ethnic minority groups and the release of about 230 political prisoners and reaching out to Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate freed last year from 15 years of detention.— Reuters
Obama, in Indonesia for a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders, said he had spoken for the first time withMyanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who told him she supported more US engagement with the country also known as Burma.
In another indication of change in Myanmar, Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, re-registered on Friday to contest a series of by-elections for vacant parliamentary seats. This follows amendments to electoral laws and brings Suu Kyi a step closer to returning to politics.
Obama said the release of political prisoners, relaxing of media restrictions and signs of legislative change in recent weeks were "the most important steps toward reform in Burma that we've seen in years".
Clinton's two-day visit from Dec. 1 would be the first by a US Secretary of State since a 1962 military coup ushered in 50 years of unbroken military rule that ended in March when a nominally civilian parliament was established.
Since then, the new government has called for peace with ethnic minority groups, displayed some tolerance of criticism, suspended an unpopular Chinese-funded dam project, freed about 230 political prisoners and reached out to Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate freed last year from 15 years of detention.
"We want to seize what could be a historic opportunity for progress and make it clear that if Burmacontinues to travel down the road of democratic reform, it can forge a new relationship with the United States of America," Obama said.
"If Burma fails to move down the path of reform, it will continue to face sanctions and isolation. But if it seizes this moment, then reconciliation can prevail," Obama said.
Human rights
Many Western governments have expressed caution that more must be done for Myanmar's reforms to be considered credible. As early as Oct. 17, for instance, Derek Mitchell, special US envoy forMyanmar, said there were "credible reports" of continuing human rights abuses against women and children.
Clinton is scheduled to meet Suu Kyi and visit Yangon and the capital Naypyitaw. She will "explore whether the United States can empower a positive transition in Burma and begin a new chapter between our countries", Obama said.
Myanmar welcomed the visit.
"It's a very good sign," Ko Ko Hlaing, chief political adviser to Myanmar's president, told Reuters. "I think it is a significant turn in US policy towards Myanmar ... people in Myanmar will welcome, cheer Hillary Clinton because for a time in history, they have never seen a secretary of state."
With sanctions blocking Western investments, China has emerged as Myanmar's biggest ally, investing in infrastructure, hydropower dams and twin oil-and-gas pipelines to help feed southern China's growing energy needs.
Bilateral trade rose more than half last year to $4.4 billion, and China's investment in Myanmarreached $12.3 billion in 2010, according to Chinese figures, with a strong focus on natural resources and energy.
But the relationship has been strained, with a long history of resentment of China among the Burmese population and fierce public opposition to a Chinese-built dam at Myitsone that prompted Myanmar President Thein Sein to shelve the project last month, a move that stunned Beijing.
A U.S. official said the Obama administration "fully expects" China to welcome US engagement withMyanmar and the United States would consult China closely on its engagement with the Southeast Asian country.
China is wary of greater US influence in the region, especially in countries on its border, as Myanmaris, but the US decision to engage with Myanmar should not be seen as an attempt to contain China, the US official said, adding that a stable Myanmar was in China's interests.
"It's about Burma, not about China," the official said.
When Obama took office in 2009, he made reaching out to American adversaries a signature part of his foreign policy approach. That included an effort early to engage with Iran.
But the administration took a cautious approach on Myanmar because of its human rights record. Obama requested a policy review on Myanmar, paving the way for the recent diplomacy.
US officials said that Obama spoke to Suu Kyi during his flight on Thursday from Australia to Bali.
The 20-minute call was the first time they had talked and he told her he had long admired her democratic struggle. They described it as a meaningful but friendly conversation in which Suu Kyi also asked about Obama's family dog.
He asked for her ideas on how to approach her country.
"She encouraged the president to make clear to Burma's leaders that the U.S. will be willing to work with them if they are in fact demonstrating that they are willing to work with the world and her," one US official said.
Obama is not scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Thein Sein but will see him in Bali at a East Asia Summit.
Southeast Asian nations endorsed Myanmar on Thursday for the chairmanship of its regional grouping in 2014, gambling that the country can stick to reforms begun this year. The United States respected that decision, a US official said.
BRUSSELS - The European Union said on Friday a decision by the party ofMyanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to take part in upcoming by-elections was "encouraging", and said a review of its policy toward the reclusive Asian nation was under way.
A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urged Myanmar to release more dissidents, but said it was already looking at whether reforms there could justify a further easing of sanctions.
"We hope that these elections are conducted in a fair and transparent manner. This would be yet another step towards national conciliation," spokesman Michael Mann said.
Mann hailed the "encouraging, positive developments" in the country and expressed hope they would continue, "including a further substantial release of political prisoners."
"The EU has always stated that it will respond to positive events in the country. The restrictive measures have already been partly modified in April," he said, referring to EU sanctions. "A more substantial review of EU policy is already under way."
Ashton sent her top foreign policy adviser to Myanmar earlier this year, and the EU slightly eased sanctions in April by suspending enforcement of travel bans and asset freezes on 24 civilian government officials to encourage reform.
The new government has called for peace with minority groups, displayed some tolerance of criticism, suspended an unpopular Chinese-funded dam project, freed about 230 political prisoners and somewhat improved relations with Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate who was freed last year after 15 years of detention.
However, large numbers of political prisoners remain and EU officials have said they would wait to see how many were actually freed, when judging the government's sincerity.
One EU diplomat said his country was still taking a wait-and-see attitude. "Although the military government has given way to a so-called civilian government, it still seems that this may be window-dressing and we would like to see some results."
NUSA DUA - Japan told Myanmar on Friday that it wants to soon start working-level talks that could lead to the resumption of full-fledged development aid, following reforms in the long-isolated country.
However, Japan also urged Myanmar to release more political prisoners to continue a series of changes since the army nominally handed over power in March to civilians after the first elections in two decades.
Japan froze new official development assistance (ODA) to the country in 2003, while continuing humanitarian aid. In June, it lifted its ban on new ODA, but has fallen short of resuming full-fledged aid for infrastructure projects.
At a bilateral meeting with President Thein Sein in Indonesia, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Nodawelcomed Myanmar's recent reforms towards democracy, including Friday's decision by the party of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to contest upcoming by-elections.
"At the same time, Prime Minister Noda expressed hope for the release of more political prisoners (inMyanmar)," Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tsuyoshi Saito told reporters.
Japan has distanced itself from the policy of Western powers, which have imposed tough sanctions onMyanmar, and from that of China, which has pumped billions of dollars into the country. It prefers engagement and dialogue to push for democracy in the country.
President Thein Sein told Noda that Myanmar hoped for Japan's ODA assistance for infrastructure projects, but Japan's premier stopped short of promising specific aid at the summit, he added.
Recent overtures by Myanmar's new civilian government have included calls for peace with ethnic minority groups and the release of about 230 political prisoners and reaching out to Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate freed last year from 15 years of detention.— Reuters
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