US: Asean must do more to push Myanmar toward democracy
The U.S. trade chief said a trade pact to be signed with Southeast Asian nations this week will boost economic ties, but urged the Asian countries to do more to push Myanmar toward democracy.
U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said Wednesday the Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement, or TIFA, with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations will help broaden and deepen relations - previously hindered by Myanmar's poor human rights records.
"The U.S. is still very uncomfortable with policies of that government relating to treatment of its own citizens. That said, we do not want our concerns of Burma to jeopardize our broader relations with ASEAN,'' Schwab said. Myanmar is also called Burma.
"It has been our hope and expectations that ASEAN will always be doing more to push Burma to move toward democracy and to have a better human rights record,'' she said.
Schwab and the 10 ASEAN ministers were due to sign the TIFA, which sets the stage for a full-fledged free trade agreement, on Friday.
U.S. President George W. Bush this month renewed sanctions against military-ruled Myanmar following its refusal to speed up democratic reforms and free political prisoners, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Asean has a policy of not interfering in member countries' affairs, but has shown rising frustration over Myanmar's slow pace of reforms.
However, Aasean officials insist continued sanctions by the European Union and the United States may not help the military move toward democracy.
Schwab acknowledged that the TIFA has been scaled down, from a binding formal agreement to a nonbinding framework arrangement, to overcome Myanmar sensitivities in Washington.
However, she said, "we don't believe we have in any way, watered down the substance of the potential of the TIFA.''
Malaysian Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz said earlier Wednesday that Myanmar's political and human rights situations have not hindered its participation in Asean's economic activities. - AP
U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said Wednesday the Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement, or TIFA, with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations will help broaden and deepen relations - previously hindered by Myanmar's poor human rights records.
"The U.S. is still very uncomfortable with policies of that government relating to treatment of its own citizens. That said, we do not want our concerns of Burma to jeopardize our broader relations with ASEAN,'' Schwab said. Myanmar is also called Burma.
"It has been our hope and expectations that ASEAN will always be doing more to push Burma to move toward democracy and to have a better human rights record,'' she said.
Schwab and the 10 ASEAN ministers were due to sign the TIFA, which sets the stage for a full-fledged free trade agreement, on Friday.
U.S. President George W. Bush this month renewed sanctions against military-ruled Myanmar following its refusal to speed up democratic reforms and free political prisoners, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Asean has a policy of not interfering in member countries' affairs, but has shown rising frustration over Myanmar's slow pace of reforms.
However, Aasean officials insist continued sanctions by the European Union and the United States may not help the military move toward democracy.
Schwab acknowledged that the TIFA has been scaled down, from a binding formal agreement to a nonbinding framework arrangement, to overcome Myanmar sensitivities in Washington.
However, she said, "we don't believe we have in any way, watered down the substance of the potential of the TIFA.''
Malaysian Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz said earlier Wednesday that Myanmar's political and human rights situations have not hindered its participation in Asean's economic activities. - AP
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