Hillary Clinton visited the residence of Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon (Myanmar)
The historic visit by Secretary of State marks the thawing of relations between the U.S. and Burma and is a sign of his newly opened after decades of isolation
U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton , met Friday with Burmese opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize Aung San Suu Kyi , starring in the picture of his historic trip to this country in Southeast Asia. The meeting between the two women, two of the leading personalities of world politics is the most obvious sign of the recent opening of Myanmar (official name) after decades of repression and international isolation because of his military dictatorship.
After meeting in the afternoon with President Thein Sein in 0 Comments , Clinton dined last night with Aung San Suu Kyi in the U.S. diplomatic residence in Yangon (Rangoon). With a more formal, the meeting has again repeated during the Friday morning at the mansion on University Avenue where " The Lady , "as it is popularly known, has spent 15 of the last 22 years under house arrest by his defense of democracy in Burma.
"You have been an inspiration, but I know he feels that all the people defending their country that deserves the same rights and freedoms that are enjoyed in other parts of the world," Clinton told the also known as the ‘ Mandela of Asia " . Meanwhile, it welcomed the new U.S. commitment Burma, which he defined as "careful and balanced", and hoped that it will serve "to advance the democratization process." " If we move forward, no going back on our way to democracy , "said Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Clinton’s trip marks the thawing of relations between the U.S. and Burma . "President Obama and I are encouraged by the steps that you and your Government have provided for his people," he told President Clinton on Thursday burying Burma’s international isolation suffered by this country in Southeast Asia because of the military dictatorship that has led with an iron fist from 1962 until last year’s elections.
Although these elections were only a "rigging" that sat on the Government to a clique of generals of the former military junta has since produced a certain openness that is seen favorably by the White House and the rest of the international community. The president of Burma, a reformist politician turned-general, announced a "new chapter in relations" with the U.S. during his meeting with Clinton, which took place in Naypyidaw , the alienating "capital-bunker" where live only officials Ministries which was built in secret in the jungle to fend off a hypothetical attack on the Pentagon.
Despite the enthusiasm of Thein Sein , Washington is not willing even to lift sanctions against Burma while waiting to see the extent of its political reforms. "We have not yet reached the point of lifting the sanctions because we are concerned that the opening interrupted," said U.S. Secretary of State. However, there is no doubt that Clinton’s visit marks a milestone for U.S. diplomacy because no such high-ranking political set foot in this country from the Secretary of State John Foster Dulles in 1955.
"I hope that Secretary Clinton’s visit will pave the way towards a better relationship because I would be very happy to see a greater U.S. commitment with Burma, "said Aung San Suu Kyi, who submitted to the election of the 48 seats which fall vacant in parliament, dominated by the military. Although his party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), boycotted the elections held in November last year shortly before his release, has returned to his active role in politics after the "glimmers of progress", in the words of Obama has brought a new government. In addition to ease restrictions limiting the use of the Internet and allow demonstrations and trade unions, the president has paralyzed Thein Sein even an unpopular dam on the Mekong River that benefited its main ally, China.
Despite this openness, advocacy groups for human rights reported that between 500 and 1,600 political prisoners languishing behind bars could continue in Burma , despite the 6359 inmates were released last month in an amnesty result of the new times. Of these, it is estimated that only 214 were in jail for ideological reasons. In addition to press for improved human rights and progress towards democracy, Hillary Clinton tries to determine the state of Burma’s nuclear program, developed in collaboration with North Korean engineers to bypass international sanctions.
Another sticking point will be the relations with China, not willingly contemplate the thaw in relations with the U.S. as the main commercial and political ally of Burma. In this regard, the spokesman for the Burmese parliament’s lower house, also a former General Shwe Mann , he told a group of journalists in Naypyidaw that "we have regular diplomatic ties with Washington, but that does not mean that they will worsen our relations with China ‘.