<!-- IMAGE -->
The United States is taking
the next step in its efforts to promote democratic reform in Burma, sending a
high-level diplomatic delegation there in the coming weeks for exploratory
talks with the nation's military rulers. For a more complete picture of
conditions on the ground, U.S. officials will also talk with representatives of
ethnic nationalities and the democratic opposition, including the National
League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi and others.
After almost 50 years of military rule, political and humanitarian conditions
in Burma are deplorable. The U.S. has long hoped economic and diplomatic
pressure would bring the leaders in Rangoon around. Since 1997, American
companies and individuals have been banned from making new investments in
Burma. Assets in the U.S. of major Burmese figures and interests have been
frozen, their travel has been limited with visa restrictions, and bans imposed
on the importation of rubies and jadeite mined in Burma, a major Burmese
industry. But neither sanctions nor engagement alone have succeeded in
improving conditions there or moving Burma forward on a path to democratic
reform.
The situation is all the more serious by the threat to stability that the turmoil in Burma poses to its neighbors and the international community at large. These and other concerns led the U.S. to reconsider its approach toward the government there. And for the first time in memory, the leadership in Burma has shown an interest in engaging with the U.S., evidenced by a meeting in September at the opening of the United Nations General Assembly by the Burmese delegation and senior American officials.
While the recent review of U.S. policies toward Burma called for additional steps to be taken for dialogue with its military rulers, it nevertheless confirmed America's fundamental interest there. The U.S. will continue to support a unified, peaceful, prosperous and democratic Burma.
