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US to ease sanctions against Burma | US to ease sanctions against Burma |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The United States has announced it will further ease sanctions against Burma. | The United States has announced it will further ease sanctions against Burma. |
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said some travel and financial restrictions would be relaxed, with Burmese leaders allowed to visit the US. | Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said some travel and financial restrictions would be relaxed, with Burmese leaders allowed to visit the US. |
European Union leaders had said earlier on Wednesday that they would consider taking similar steps. | European Union leaders had said earlier on Wednesday that they would consider taking similar steps. |
The news follows by-elections in Burma on Sunday in which pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party secured a landslide win. | The news follows by-elections in Burma on Sunday in which pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party secured a landslide win. |
The National League for Democracy (NLD) took 43 out of 45 seats up for grabs in the polls, which were generally deemed to be free and fair. | The National League for Democracy (NLD) took 43 out of 45 seats up for grabs in the polls, which were generally deemed to be free and fair. |
Mrs Clinton, who paid a visit to Burma last year, praised President Thein Sein's "leadership and courage". | Mrs Clinton, who paid a visit to Burma last year, praised President Thein Sein's "leadership and courage". |
"We fully recognise and embrace the progress that has taken place and we will continue our policy of engagement," she said. | "We fully recognise and embrace the progress that has taken place and we will continue our policy of engagement," she said. |
Under the moves, the US will name an ambassador to Burma and establish an office for its Agency for International Development in the country. | Under the moves, the US will name an ambassador to Burma and establish an office for its Agency for International Development in the country. |
The US would also begin "targeted easing" of the ban on US financial services and investment in Burma, she said without giving further details. | |
The recent by-elections are being hailed as an important step in Burma's transition from decades of authoritarian military rule towards a more open, democratic and representative system. But it is a transition fraught with difficulties. | The recent by-elections are being hailed as an important step in Burma's transition from decades of authoritarian military rule towards a more open, democratic and representative system. But it is a transition fraught with difficulties. |
Aung San Suu Kyi will feel that the risk she took in deciding to participate in the elections has been vindicated by the scale of her party's success. | Aung San Suu Kyi will feel that the risk she took in deciding to participate in the elections has been vindicated by the scale of her party's success. |
But the real test will be to see how effective she is able to be as an agent for change within parliament. | But the real test will be to see how effective she is able to be as an agent for change within parliament. |
Administration officials said agriculture, tourism, telecommunications and banking would be among the economic sectors to be considered for the relaxation of sanctions. | |
Mrs Clinton said that sanctions would remain in place "on individuals and institutions that remain on the wrong side of these historic reform efforts". | |
The US eased some sanctions on Burma in February. | The US eased some sanctions on Burma in February. |
Political prisoners | Political prisoners |
The US move came hours after Asian leaders meeting for a regional summit issued a formal call for sanctions against Burma to be lifted immediately to help the country's political and economic development. | The US move came hours after Asian leaders meeting for a regional summit issued a formal call for sanctions against Burma to be lifted immediately to help the country's political and economic development. |
Speaking in London, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said EU members would probably be willing to lift some of their sanctions on Burma. | Speaking in London, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said EU members would probably be willing to lift some of their sanctions on Burma. |
"That does not mean an instant and complete opening up of trade with Burma," he added. | "That does not mean an instant and complete opening up of trade with Burma," he added. |
Mr Hague said he would keep up pressure on Burma to free political prisoners. | Mr Hague said he would keep up pressure on Burma to free political prisoners. |
The Chinese foreign ministry welcomed the Western moves to relax sanctions on Burma, and called for all restrictions to be lifted. | |
China has long been Burma's closest partner and biggest investor. | |
But human rights campaigners warned the West against being too quick to lift sanctions. | |
"To lift the sanctions immediately and totally would be premature," a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch, Sunai Phasuk, told the BBC's World Today programme. | |
"We need to maintain leverage, we need to maintain pressure and use these to negotiate for further changes to guarantee that there will be no reversal of positive development in Burma." | |
Although the NLD won a landslide victory in Sunday's polls, the result barely makes a dent in the ruling military's dominance of parliament. | Although the NLD won a landslide victory in Sunday's polls, the result barely makes a dent in the ruling military's dominance of parliament. |
The army and its proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) still hold about 80% of seats in parliament after elections in November 2010 that were boycotted by the NLD because of election laws they said were unfair. | The army and its proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) still hold about 80% of seats in parliament after elections in November 2010 that were boycotted by the NLD because of election laws they said were unfair. |
Correspondents say a key test of the government's commitment to reform lies ahead, as the NLD enters parliament. | Correspondents say a key test of the government's commitment to reform lies ahead, as the NLD enters parliament. |
The NLD won elections in 1990 but was not allowed to take power. Aung San Suu Kyi spent years under house arrest ordered by the ruling military junta. | The NLD won elections in 1990 but was not allowed to take power. Aung San Suu Kyi spent years under house arrest ordered by the ruling military junta. |
But a series of reforms has been enacted in Burma since November 2010 after the polls which saw military rule ended and a military-backed civilian government elected to office. | But a series of reforms has been enacted in Burma since November 2010 after the polls which saw military rule ended and a military-backed civilian government elected to office. |