US to deal directly with Myanmar junta

September 24, 2009|Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said yesterday that the Obama administration has decided to engage directly with Myanmar’s junta as part of international efforts to promote democracy in the military-run state.

Clinton made the announcement at the United Nations after meeting with her counterparts from a number of countries trying to persuade the authoritarian regime to reform, allow dissent, and release political prisoners, including Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

She said that US sanctions against members of Myanmar’s leadership would remain in place but that those measures would now be accompanied by outreach. For months, Clinton had lamented that the sanctions were having little impact.

“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,’’ Clinton told reporters, using the country’s traditional name.

“Engagement versus sanctions is a false choice in our opinion,’’ she said. “To help achieve democratic reform, we will be engaging directly with Burmese authorities.’’

The decision to engage Myanmar stemmed from a review of US policy toward the country initiated after President Obama took office. The Bush administration had shunned Myanmar.

US officials said Congress would be briefed on specifics of the engagement policy today.