US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addresses a press conference after attending APEC ministerial meetings in Singapore, 11 Nov 2009Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is urging Asian countries to jointhe United States in pressing Burmese authorities to make electionsplanned for next year free, fair and credible. Clinton briefed fellow foreign ministers fromthe APEC Pacific-rim countries in Singapore on the Obamaadministration's efforts to engage the Burmese military government.

Clintonsays bringing stability to Burma through political reform should be ashared objective of that country's neighbors, including regional powersIndia and China.

At a news conference after a day of meetingswith fellow foreign ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperationforum, Clinton said the region already suffers from spill-over effectsof Burma's political problems.

"Left alone, the internalproblems within Burma are not confined within Burma's borders," shesaid. "We have seen refugee flows out of Burma. People taking toboats, ending up in Malaysia, ending up in Indonesia, ending up inAustralia, crossing the border into Thailand. That instability is notgood for anyone."

The Obama administration sent two seniorenvoys last week to Burma to begin a promised attempt at dialogue withauthorities there.

Clinton said she has no illusions thatbringing change to Burma will be easy or quick and said U.S. sanctionsagainst the military government will remain in place until, as she putit, "we see meaningful progress in key areas."

The United Stateshas demanded the release of detained Burmese democracy leader Aung SanSuu Kyi, though Clinton said under questioning the future role of theNobel peace laureate in the country's political life is for the Burmeseto decide.

"We think this has to be resolved within the Burmesepeople themselves, so we are not setting or dictating any conditions,"she said. "We want to help facilitate the space and opportunity forthe Burmese people to work out the challenges they face in having freeand credible elections and setting forth a plan for a more prosperousand peaceful future."

Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National Leaguefor Democracy Party won elections in 1990, but was barred from takingoffice, was allowed to meet last week with the visiting U.S. diplomats. 

A senior U.S. official who briefed reporters said Aung San SuuKyi is supportive of the U.S. outreach effort. He said the release ofAung San Suu Kyi, who has been under various forms of detention formuch of the past two decades, is "absolutely" necessary if the UnitedStates is to move forward with any fundamental engagement with Burma.

U.S.President Barack Obama attends a summit-level session of the 21 APECcountries here early next week and will also have a meeting Sunday withthe 10 leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian nations.

Burmais an ASEAN member country and its Prime Minister Thien Sein isexpected to take part in the session with Mr. Obama, though the WhiteHouse says they will not have a one-on-one meeting.