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| United States Senator Mr John McCain (left) and US charge d’affaires Mr Larry Dinger at a press conference at the American Centre in Yangon on June 3. Pic: Kaung Htet |
June 6 - 12, 2011
ANY improvement in relations between Myanmar and the United States must be built on “concrete steps” towards democratic reform, US Senator John McCain reiterated at the conclusion of the three-day visit last week.
Speaking at a press conference in Yangon on June 3, Senator McCain said opportunities existed to create a better relationship, which he believed was the desire of both sides.
“It was clear from my meetings in Nay Pyi Taw that the new government wants a better relationship with the United States, and I was equally clear that this is an aspiration that I and my government share,” Senator McCain said in a statement.
“I acknowledge that this new government represents some change from the past,” he said. “The US should be willing to put all aspects of our policy on the table and give fair consideration to the requests this new government makes of us. But … any improvement in relations will need to be built not on warm words, but on concrete actions.”
The Republican senator, who has strongly supported US sanctions against Myanmar since 1997, said one example of the change that had occurred in Myanmar was the new government’s willingness to issue him a visa “after 15 years worth of attempts to do so on my part were rejected”.
His visit included meetings in Nay Pyi Taw on June 1 with Vice President Thiha Thura U Tin Aung Myint Oo, speakers of the hluttaws and government ministers. On June 2 he met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, opposition politicians and civil society leaders..
Senator McCain also acknowledged that the US and United Nations had adopted measures against Myanmar based on the actions of the State Peace and Development Council government, which was disbanded on March 30.
“And now there is a new government. There is an opportunity for progress that has to be accomplished by concrete actions,” he told reporters.
He outlined a series of steps that Myanmar should take to improve relations, which included the “unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience”, ensuring the safety of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, beginning a “democratic” process of national reconciliation and abiding by its “international obligations” to uphold UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea.
“Concrete steps like these need not, and should not, take a lot of time. They could be done quickly, if the new government is willing, and they could be met with reciprocal steps by the United States to contribute to improved relations. This attempt at engagement should be time-bound and results-oriented.
He also pointed out that reform should not be undertaken “for the sake of the United States” but because it was “the right thing to do”.
“[Reform] would create an opportunity for a new kind of relationship with the United States – one that will respect and strengthen the independence of this country, not undermine it.”
Following her meeting with the US senator on June 2, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi told reporters that Senator McCain had assured her there wouldn’t be an immediate change to the US government’s policy of sanctions against Myanmar.
Sanctions were introduced with support from her party, the deregistered National League for Democracy, as well as activists.
“To lift sanctions, the US government has told the Myanmar government what it has to do. [Senator McCain] said he would support democratic reforms. I enjoyed the talk with him,” she said.
Senator McCain’s visit comes shortly after the official visit of US deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, Mr Joseph Yun, last month.
Mr Yun also called on the new government to make “concrete steps” towards reform.
The US has imposed three stages of sanctions against Myanmar: prohibition of new investment by US nationals or companies in 1997, a ban on all imports and exports between the two countries in 2003 and visa restrictions in 2007.
U Win Tin, a senior member of the deregistered NLD, told The Myanmar Times he urged Senator McCain to ensure sanctions were not removed prematurely. “We told him we appreciate that sanctions are still imposed on Myanmar and asked him to continue supporting them.”
Source:http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/news/578/news57801.html
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