Washington, Sept 20 (ANI): The Obama administration has announced that it has removed sanctions imposed on two top Myanmar officials.
The removal of sanctions gives Myanmar President Thein Sein and Lower House of Parliament Speaker Thura Shwe Mann access to once-blocked property and assets, and allows Americans to do business with them.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Treasury Department said the removals acknowledge the efforts of the pair on behalf of reform.
"Thein Sein and Thura Shwe Mann have taken concrete steps to promote political reforms and human rights, and to move Burma away from repression and dictatorship toward democracy and freedom, warranting today's delisting action," the paper quoted said David Cohen, undersecretary of Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, as saying.
According to the Journal, Washington continues to maintain an import ban on Myanmar products, which Myanmar officials are pressing hard to get removed.
The U.S. Treasury move on Wednesday came as opposition leadersome activists criticized Myanmar's government for not including more political prisoners in a general amnesty announced earlier this week.
Treasury said Thein Sein has supported far-reaching reforms in Myanmar since taking office in 2011 after the country's former strongman leader, Than Shwe, retired.
Among them is his dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi met with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House.
Earlier, U.S. lawmakers awarded her the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress's highest civilian honor.
"Going forward, additional listings or delistings will be pursued as appropriate to meet changing conditions in Burma," Treasury said in the statement. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
