Thailand to help Myanmar campaign w/ US to lift sanctions | The Nation / Thailand

Thailand to help Myanmar campaign w/ US to lift sanctions | The Nation / Thailand
Supalak Ganjanakhundee, The Nation

Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said Tuesday that he would help Myanmar convince US to lift all sanctions against the country when he meets Secretary of State Hillary Clinton here.

The regime in Nay Pyi Taw has proven that it is fully committed to democratic reforms and national reconciliation, said Surapong who visited Myanmar on June 8, before his trip to the 4th Thai-US Strategic Dialogue this week.

His Myanmar counterpart, Wunna Maung Lwin, has asked him to help convey the message on Myanmar's political developments to Washington, he said.

“Thailand, as a friend of Myanmar, needs to do what it can to have the US sanctions lifted,” Surapong told reporters.

“The US might feel we are too optimistic on the development in Myanmar but I think it is clear that the country is moving toward democracy.”

The US has recently relaxed some sanctions on Myanmar but tough measures remain blocking economic activities including trade and investment from the US and its allies.

Surapong was scheduled to meet Clinton and key senators, including Jim Webb from the Democrat Party and James Inhofe from the Republican Party.

He would also discuss with them the refugees who Thailand has sheltered at the border for long time. Bangkok has a clear policy to repatriate them to their country of origin whenever they can return home safely.

He would also ask investors in the US-Asean Business Council and the US Chamber of Commerce to consider investing in the Dawei project, which would connect Myanmar and other South Asian Nations.

International community should help support Myanmar’s efforts to reform the country, Surapong said.

Thailand has invited Myanmar President Thein Sein to visit Bangkok in the third week of July to discuss a wide range of issues including the cooperation on Dawei project.

“We will show him our eastern sea board that would link with the western sea board in the future when the Dawei project is completed,” he said.

Thein Sein delayed his previous plan to visit Thailand during the World Economic Forum May 30- June 1 which pro-democracy leader and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi attended.

Surapong said the delay was due to some internal affairs and not because of the high-profile visit of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Apart from the Myanmar issue, Surapong said he would discuss with US officials other issues including counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics cooperation, refugee and humanitarian assistance.