US marks Burmese Independence Day, reaffirming new Burma approach

Friday, 01 January 2010 15:01 Usa Pichai


Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - The United State remains ready to improve ties with Burma if there is measurable progress toward democracy in the country, according to a statement released on Wednesday in the run-up to the 62nd anniversary of Burma’s independence from Britain.

The statement from the US State Department expressed the warmest wishes to the people of Burma on the occasion, which falls on January 4th, and referred to recent meetings between diplomats of the two countries during which the United States reaffirmed its unwavering support for an independent, peaceful, prosperous and democratic Burma.

“The United States stands ready to take steps to improve bilateral relations based on reciprocal and meaningful efforts by the Burmese government to fulfill the Burmese peoples' democratic aspirations,” the statement specified.

“We support the peaceful efforts of people everywhere to exercise freely their universal human rights, and we look forward to the day when Burma’s citizens will be able to do so. We hope that day will come soon,” it added.

The United States has opened a high-level dialogue with the junta as part of President Barack Obama's policy of reaching out to its long-time adversary.

Recently, the US State Department also welcomed the Burmese regime allowing Aung San Suu Kyi to pay her respects to three senior leaders of the National League for Democracy in the Burmese cosmopolitan capital of Rangoon.

In September, the US announced a new policy on Burma that will involve direct engagement with the Burmese military junta while maintaining existing sanctions that can be tightened or eased depending on political progress in the Southeast Asian Nation.

In November, Hillary Clinton, United States Secretary of State, urged ASEAN nations to convince Burma to hold transparent general elections after a meeting with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) foreign ministers in Singapore.

Clinton emphasized that ASEAN needs to nudge Burma towards democracy as "the internal problems with Burma are not confined within Burma's borders.” She added the US will not set any conditions for Burma's move towards democracy but that sanctions on the military regime will remain in place for the time being.