US confirms official’s meetings in Burma
Posted on March 26, 2009
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The US State Department has confirmed that Stephen Blake, director of the Department’s Office for Mainland Southeast Asia visited Burma this week and met with senior Burmese officials.
However, they stressed the meetings did not represent a change in the Obama administration’s policy towards Burma.
Blake’s visit was part of a five-country tour, which also included Cambodia, Laos Thailand and Vietnam. While in Burma, he met with Foreign Minister Nyan Win and other senior members of the government as well as members of ethnic groups and members of the Central Executive Committee of the opposition National League for Democracy.
Last month while on a tour of Asia, US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton hinted at a review of US policy towards Burma. But, in a statement issued today, the State Department stressed the review was still underway and Blake’s visit was not part of a new approach in dealing with the military run country. “Mr Blake’s two immediate predecessors, have visited Burma and met with Burmese officials on a number of occasions in recent years,” they said.
The statement also said, “While we have not yet finalized our approach, we remain committed to encouraging a genuine dialogue between the Burmese authorities and opposition that leads to a free and democratic Burma that respects the rights of its diverse citizens and is at peace with its neighbours.”
However, this is believed to be the first visit by a US diplomat to Naypyidaw, the junta’s new capital. The state run New Light of Myanmar newspaper described the meetings as ‘cordial discussions on issues of mutual interest and promotion of bilateral relations.’
There had been some confusion earlier in the day, when during a State Department press briefing, a spokesman had denied the meetings took place. Apparently, the denial refereed to Robert Blake, the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and not Stephen Blake!
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