Suu Kyi backs Obama's policy shift of talks with Burmese junta

Yangon (Myanmar), Sep 25(ANI): Detained Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has backed the Obama administration's initiative to carry out talks with Burma's rulers.

Suu Kyi comments came after indications from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the US is set to engage directly with Burma's military rulers in an effort to push for democratic reforms.

In a policy shift that emphasized how the West's regime of sanctions failed to bring about change in Burma, Clinton told a Group of Friends on Myanmar meeting in New York that dialogue with the junta was to be stepped up.

"Any debate that pits sanctions against engagement creates a false choice. Going forward, we'll need to employ both of these tools," The Independent quoted Clinton, as saying.

"Lifting sanctions now would send the wrong signal, and we will maintain our existing sanctions until we see concrete progress towards reform. But, we will be willing to discuss the easing of sanctions in response to significant actions on the part of Burma's generals that address the core human rights and democracy issues that are inhibiting Burma's progress," Clinton added.

The decision follows a review of US policy towards Burma, which was undertaken by the Obama administration.

Nyan Win, a spokesman for Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, indicated that there was broad approval of the US stance.

"The new US approach will bring an improved and more transparent relation between the US and Burma," Win said.

"Suu Kyi accepted the idea of engagement by the US administration. She has always espoused engagement, however, [she] suggested that engagement had to be done with both sides - the government as well as the democratic forces," he added. (ANI)