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US plans to engage Myanmar diplomatically

Sanctions under spotlight in policy change

AFP, Bangkok
The Obama administration, sketching out a new policy toward Myanmar, pledged Wednesday to engage diplomatically with the country's military rulers in a bid to promote democratic reform there.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York. Secretary of State Hillary' Clinton raised the possibility of an eventual easing or lifting of sanctions if US engagement produces political changes in Myanmar, earlier known as Burma.
Hillary told reporters that "we believe that sanctions remain important as part of our policy, but by themselves they have not produced the results that had been hoped for on behalf of the people of Burma."
The United States and European Union have imposed sanctions on Myanmar due to its refusal to recognize the last elections in 1990 and prolonged detention of the victor, democracy' icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
"So going forward, we will be employing both of those tools pursuing our same goals, and to help achieve democratic
reform, we will be engaging directly with Burmese authorities,” the chief US diplomat said.
Taking a less confrontational international approach than his predecessor George W. Bush, President Barack Obama has already taken steps or announced plans to engage hardline regimes in Tehran, Pyongyang, Damascus and Havana.
Hillary said she could "preview" the new approach toward Myanmar, because a policy review begun by the administration days after it took office in January was almost complete.
She made the information public after briefing foreign ministers from a group of countries concerned about the situation in Myanmar that was chaired by UN Secretary General Ban Ki- moon.
"2010 will be a very critical year for Myanmar," Ban said after the meeting.
He echoed calls by other members of the international community for the release of political prisoners so that they can take part in elections next year.
Critics have dismissed the planned polls as a sham designed to entrench the
military's hold on power.
Hillary said the "basic objectives" of US policy toward Myanmar have not changed.
"We want credible democratic reform, a government that responds to the needs of the Burmese people, immediate, unconditional release of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi," she said.
Aung San Suu Kyi has spent 13 of the last 19 years in detention since the junta refused to recognize the National League for Democracy’s landslide victory in the country's last elections in 1990.
The junta, Hillary added, must also engage In a "serious dialogue with the opposition and minority ethnic groups."
A senior US official said the Obama administration sought to change its policy partly because the military rulers themselves showed signs of wanting to improve relations with the United States.
Hillary outlined the new US stand on sanctions to the foreign ministers from countries of the Group of Friends Burma, which includes a cross-section of countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, China, Britain and France.