Obama to make Myanmar trip
Source: Agencies |
November 10, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PRESIDENT Barack Obama will become the first US leader to visit Myanmar later this month, the strongest West endorsement so far of the quasi-civilian government in the once-isolated Southeast Asian country after decades of military rule.
Obama will travel to Myanmar as part of a November 17-20 tour of Southeast Asia that will include stops in Thailand and Cambodia, the White House said on Thursday as it confirmed his first international trip since he won a second term in Tuesday's election.
The visit to Myanmar, the first by a sitting US president, will give Obama a chance to meet President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to encourage the "ongoing democratic transition," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
Obama will be in Myanmar on November 19, according to a government source in Yangon.
While marking a "milestone" in US efforts to promote changes in Myanmar, he also risks criticism for rewarding the new government too soon, especially after security forces failed to prevent bloody ethnic violence in the west of the country.
Some 89 people were killed in clashes between Buddhist Rakhines and minority Muslim Rohingyas, according to the latest official toll covering the last 10 days of October.
Many thousands more have been displaced by the violence.
The United States eased sanctions on Myanmar this year in recognition of the political and economic changes under way, and many US companies are looking at starting operations in the country, located between China and India, which has abundant resources and low-cost labor.
In November 2011, Hillary Clinton became the first US secretary of state to visit Myanmar in more than 50 years.
Myanmar's government said yesterday that it "warmly welcomes" Obama's decision to visit the country this month.
Presidential office spokesman Major Zaw Htay said in a statement yesterday that the government hopes "bilateral relations and cooperation will significantly increase after this historic visit."
Obama will also be in Southeast Asia to attend meetings in Cambodia for the annual summit of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The leaders of China, Japan, Russsia and other countries are also expected in Cambodia for the meetings.
Obama will travel to Myanmar as part of a November 17-20 tour of Southeast Asia that will include stops in Thailand and Cambodia, the White House said on Thursday as it confirmed his first international trip since he won a second term in Tuesday's election.
The visit to Myanmar, the first by a sitting US president, will give Obama a chance to meet President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to encourage the "ongoing democratic transition," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
Obama will be in Myanmar on November 19, according to a government source in Yangon.
While marking a "milestone" in US efforts to promote changes in Myanmar, he also risks criticism for rewarding the new government too soon, especially after security forces failed to prevent bloody ethnic violence in the west of the country.
Some 89 people were killed in clashes between Buddhist Rakhines and minority Muslim Rohingyas, according to the latest official toll covering the last 10 days of October.
Many thousands more have been displaced by the violence.
The United States eased sanctions on Myanmar this year in recognition of the political and economic changes under way, and many US companies are looking at starting operations in the country, located between China and India, which has abundant resources and low-cost labor.
In November 2011, Hillary Clinton became the first US secretary of state to visit Myanmar in more than 50 years.
Myanmar's government said yesterday that it "warmly welcomes" Obama's decision to visit the country this month.
Presidential office spokesman Major Zaw Htay said in a statement yesterday that the government hopes "bilateral relations and cooperation will significantly increase after this historic visit."
Obama will also be in Southeast Asia to attend meetings in Cambodia for the annual summit of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The leaders of China, Japan, Russsia and other countries are also expected in Cambodia for the meetings.
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