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US official in rare Burma talks | US official in rare Burma talks |
(1 day later) | |
A senior US official has held talks with Burma's junta on a visit to the military-ruled nation. | A senior US official has held talks with Burma's junta on a visit to the military-ruled nation. |
State department official Stephen Blake met the Burmese foreign minister, Nyan Win, in the capital Naypyidaw, as part of a four-day visit. | State department official Stephen Blake met the Burmese foreign minister, Nyan Win, in the capital Naypyidaw, as part of a four-day visit. |
The US described Mr Blake's visit as routine, but Burma's generals said it was notable given his seniority. | The US described Mr Blake's visit as routine, but Burma's generals said it was notable given his seniority. |
The US has recently said it is seeking new ways to encourage democratic progress in Burma. | The US has recently said it is seeking new ways to encourage democratic progress in Burma. |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last month that Washington was looking at how to influence the government and "more effectively help the Burmese people". | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last month that Washington was looking at how to influence the government and "more effectively help the Burmese people". |
'Cordial discussions' | 'Cordial discussions' |
Mr Blake is the state department's director of Mainland Southeast Asian Affairs. | Mr Blake is the state department's director of Mainland Southeast Asian Affairs. |
Burma's military leadership said that his visit to Naypyidaw was the first to the city to promote bilateral relations between the US and Burma, and that a reception held by the US embassy for officials in Naypyidaw to introduce Mr Blake was the first held by any foreign mission in the capital. | Burma's military leadership said that his visit to Naypyidaw was the first to the city to promote bilateral relations between the US and Burma, and that a reception held by the US embassy for officials in Naypyidaw to introduce Mr Blake was the first held by any foreign mission in the capital. |
Naypyidaw is the administrative capital of a poor, repressed state | |
The state-controlled New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that Mr Blake and foreign minister Nyan Win held "cordial discussions on issues of mutual interests and promotion of bilateral relations". | |
"Myanmar [Burma] and the US have been friendly countries since the beginning," a senior Burmese official told the French news agency AFP on condition of anonymity. | "Myanmar [Burma] and the US have been friendly countries since the beginning," a senior Burmese official told the French news agency AFP on condition of anonymity. |
But state department spokesman Gordon Duguid later played down the significance of the visit, saying it did not reflect a change in policy or approach to Burma. | But state department spokesman Gordon Duguid later played down the significance of the visit, saying it did not reflect a change in policy or approach to Burma. |
"Office director-level officials, including Mr Blake's two immediate predecessors, have visited Burma and met with Burmese officials on a number of occasions in recent years," Mr Duguid said. | "Office director-level officials, including Mr Blake's two immediate predecessors, have visited Burma and met with Burmese officials on a number of occasions in recent years," Mr Duguid said. |
Mr Blake also used his visit to Burma to meet members of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD). | Mr Blake also used his visit to Burma to meet members of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD). |
The UN and others have called for the release of more than 2,000 political prisoners, including NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi. | The UN and others have called for the release of more than 2,000 political prisoners, including NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi. |
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