Saturday, 14 January 2012The United States, for the first time in two decades, announced Friday that it will post an ambassador to Burma, which earlier in the day freed hundreds of political prisoners. A series of reforms in Burma has prompted Washington to change how it deals with the country.
U.S. President Barack Obama calls Burma's decision to release hundreds of political prisoners "a substantial step forward for democratic reform."
The Burmese government freed 651 prisoners on Friday. The release is in line with conditions for improving relations with Washington that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made clear during a visit last month.
Following the prisoner release, Clinton said on Friday that the U.S. will start the process of exchanging ambassadors with Burma.
"As I said last December, the United States will meet action with action. Based on the steps taken so far, we will now begin," she said.
But Obama and Clinton both said that more political reforms need to happen in Burma.
Clinton says Washington will continue to urge Burma’s government to take “bold steps” to build a free and prosperous nation.
Washington withdrew its ambassador more than 20 years ago, after the military council ruling Burma at the time ignored the results of the opposition’s overwhelming victory in the 1990 election.
The U.S. and many other governments, including the European Union, have long imposed economic and travel sanctions on Burma, considered one of the most repressive nations in the world.
An election in 2010 brought in a civilian government, although one backed by the military.
That new government has made several reforms, including easing media restrictions and allowing greater civil liberties. |
Saturday, 14 January 2012
Kate Pound Dawson for VOA News in Washington, D.C.
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