UN chief urges lifting of Burma sanctions

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the international community to lift more sanctions on Burma and increase development assistance.

He said in a speech to Burma’s parliament that the world should match the ambitions of the country’s people for democracy and change.

Western nations have said they will ease their sanctions if President Thein Sein, a former general who retains close ties to the military, continues political reforms he began after taking office a year ago.

The European Union and several Western nations have already dropped or suspended sanctions that were imposed in response to repression by the country’s former military junta. BreakingNews.ie