President Obama
shakes hands with President Thein Sein of Myanmar (Photo: SAUL LOEB,
AFP/Getty Images)
David Jackson
May 20, 2013
President Obama
praised changes in the country he repeatedly referred to as "Myanmar"
on Monday, but he added that the military government there needs to go even
further.
While official U.S.
policy refers to the Asian nation by its older name — Burma — Obama used the
name preferred by the ruling military government in encouraging President Thein
Sein to continue on the difficult path of political and economic change.
"As President
Sein is the first to admit, this is a long journey and there is still much work
to be done," Obama said.
Holding out the
hope of increased trade and investment with the United States and other
nations, Obama said: "We very much appreciate your efforts and leadership
in leading Myanmar in a new direction."
White House
spokesman Jay Carney said the name Burma remains official U.S. policy, but the
U.S. government "over time has begun to allow limited use of the name
Myanmar as a diplomatic courtesy."
Hailing the first
U.S. visit by a Burmese leader in nearly 50 years, Obama noted that there have
been "significant bilateral tensions" between the two nations over
the decades.
In recent years,
Obama said, Burma has released political prisoners, including pro-democracy
activist Aung San Suu Kyi. The government has also sought to reduce ethnic
tensions, Obama said, though he raised concern about reports of violence toward
Muslim communities.
"We very much
appreciate your efforts in leadership in leading Myanmar in a new direction and
we want you to know that the United States will make every effort to assist you
in what I know is a long and sometimes difficult but ultimately correct path to
follow," Obama told Thein Sein.
Some lawmakers have
questioned Burma's commitment to change.
Sen. Marco Rubio,
R-Fla., said he is hopeful about reconciliation between the United States and
the country he called Burma, but there has been has been "some
backsliding" by the military rulers in Rangoon.
Rubio said some
political prisoners have been re-arrested, and that "by some accounts
there are more political prisoners now than when President Obama visited Burma
last year. Given national elections next year, there remains a need for
constitutional change to reduce the role of the military in governance."
Thein Sein,
speaking through a translator, said his government is pleased over its improved
relationship with United States and noted that Burma's new democracy is only 2
years old.
"We have a lot
of challenges ahead of us," Thein Sein said.
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