Thailand To Urge US To Lift Sanctions On Myanmar: Surapong

[webfact]

Thailand to urge US to lift sanctions on Myanmar: Surapong

WASHINGTON, June 13 - Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said he would urge the US government to lift all sanctions imposed against Myanmar as he meets with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today.

The Thai foreign minister, now on an official visit to the US June 11-16 to boost the longstanding relations between the two countries, is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his US counterpart on Wednesday.

Mr Surapong said the Myanmar issue will be raised during the talks as the US wants Thailand to play a major role in connecting with the neighbouring country.

As Thailand is a friend of Myanmar, Mr Surapong said, he will urge the US government to lift all sanctions against the neighbouring country to support all kinds of development for the benefit of the Myanmar people.

Mr Surapong noted that the Australian government has already announced the lifting of all sanctions earlier imposed against Myanmar.

The Thai foreign minister said he met with Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin on June 8 and the latter confirmed that President Thein Sein will visit Thailand during the third week of July after postponing the trip three times.

President Thein Sein wants to visit Thailand's Eastern Seaboard economic region as a model for a similar project on Myanmar's western seaboard, according to the Thai foreign minister.

Mr Surapong added the Thai government takes this opportunity to invite Myanmar's first lady to visit the kingdom, as she is interested in social work.

Apart from the Myanmar issue, Mr Surapong said he will inform Mrs Clinton about Thailand's post-flood rehabilitation and the telecommunications as well as its high-speed train projects which will allow Thailand to be connecting point among the ASEAN member countries.

Thailand's national reconciliation plan and political development in the country will also be clarified to the US government, Mr Surapong said, along with other topics such as terrorism, anti-drug and human trafficking campaign, as well as Thailand's policy on displaced persons along the Thai-Myanmar border.

The Thai minister left Bangkok on June 11 to attend the 4th Thai-US Strategic Dialogue in Washington, DC and will travel afterward to Los Angeles on June 15 to launch the issuing of Thai identity cards to Thai citizens residing abroad.

In Washington, after meeting with Mrs Clinton, the Thai minister will also meet with senators who play an important role in shaping US foreign policy, as well as leading businessmen from the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC), to elaborate on the current political and economic situation in Thailand.

In Los Angeles, Mr Surapong will preside over the pre-launching ceremony of the issuing of Thai identity cards for overseas Thais and meet with the Thai community to learn about their problems and concerns and to explain the current Thai government policy towards overseas Thai communities. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-06-13

[rkidlad]

Lift sanctions to make it easier for Thailand to do business there. Simple as.

[jerrysteve]

The heads of state in Myanmar should make the trip to the U.S. and ask the U.S. to lift any sanctions held against them by the U.S. Government and not have a 3rd party do it.

[Jingthing]

I reckon it may be too early to lift ALL the sanctions. Better ask Aung San Suu Kyi her opinion about the timing. It does seem unseemly for THAILAND to ask this.

[webfact]

US backs greater role for Thailand

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2012 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced hope Wednesday that Thailand would play a greater leadership role after years of political turmoil that has shaken the oldest US ally in Asia.

Clinton met in Washington with Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul ahead of formal talks Thursday on issues ranging from trade to human rights and the environment.

"We support the kingdom of Thailand assuming a greater leadership role in the region," Clinton told reporters.

"We look forward to working with Thailand in pursuing our common objectives for maintaining peace and prosperity in the Asia Pacific."

Thailand has long been a linchpin of US policy in Asia, with the kingdom then known as Siam famously offering elephants to Abraham Lincoln as he put down secession in the 1861-1865 Civil War.

But the United States has been concerned that Thailand has been too absorbed in recent years by domestic politics at a time that President Barack Obama's administration is putting a renewed emphasis on Southeast Asia.

Surapong welcomed the greater US focus on Southeast Asia, saying: "We believe that this would help contribute to regional peace and stability, which is important for economic growth and prosperity of the region."

Thailand plunged into chaos in 2006 when royalist generals staged a coup that ousted elected prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a populist billionaire. More than 90 people died in mass protests in Bangkok in 2010.

Clinton visited Thailand in November and urged reconciliation after an election that brought Thaksin's sister Yingluck Shinawatra to power as prime minister.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-06-14

[spidermike007]

I reckon it may be too early to lift ALL the sanctions. Better ask Aung San Suu Kyi her opinion about the timing. It does seem unseemly for THAILAND to ask this.

She was asked about this during a press conference on her recent trip to Thailand. She said in place of the irrational exuberance that she is seeing towards Burma, there should be a balanced caution. Things appear to have changed slightly. But, what about the Rohinga issues? What about the hundreds of thousands of Burmese refugees currently in Thailand and Bangladesh? Let the government demonstrate to us that they have given up slave trafficking, drug dealing, and simply dealing in human misery, for the sake of the 10 top generals all amassing a fortune in the billions. Burma has a very, very, very long way to go to demonstrate anything. Thailand has been Burmas lapdog for a long time. They are sucking up to the generals out of desire for the natural gas, and have been doing so for a long time. Thailand is not a reliable broker for Burma.

[h90]

The heads of state in Myanmar should make the trip to the U.S. and ask the U.S. to lift any sanctions held against them by the U.S. Government and not have a 3rd party do it.

I think there is a travel ban on them.

[h90]

I reckon it may be too early to lift ALL the sanctions. Better ask Aung San Suu Kyi her opinion about the timing. It does seem unseemly for THAILAND to ask this.

Better don't ask her anything...she is already responsible for thousands of deads with her unreasonable backroom dealing for sanctions.

[wade72]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/17/usa-myanmar-clinton-idUSL1E8GHCFH20120517

Umm they have already suspended most all sanctions against the country. There is still an arms embargo in place.

[Jingthing]

I reckon it may be too early to lift ALL the sanctions. Better ask Aung San Suu Kyi her opinion about the timing. It does seem unseemly for THAILAND to ask this.

Better don't ask her anything...she is already responsible for thousands of deads with her unreasonable backroom dealing for sanctions.

Freedom isn't free.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

I doubt if Thailand's request carries much weight.

Personally I'd like to see some free and fair elections - at least as much so as those in Thailand and the US - before **all** sanctions are lifted.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Better don't ask her anything...she is already responsible for thousands of deads with her unreasonable backroom dealing for sanctions.

And if someone within North Korea were capable of fighting for the end of that insane regime, would you lay the resulting deaths at the feet of those fighting for freedom or the oppressors?

What are you red Chinese I suppose?

[h90]

Better don't ask her anything...she is already responsible for thousands of deads with her unreasonable backroom dealing for sanctions.

And if someone within North Korea were capable of fighting for the end of that insane regime, would you lay the resulting deaths at the feet of those fighting for freedom or the oppressors?

What are you red Chinese I suppose?

a) It is not about North Korea.

no the people who died in hospitals lack of medicine were not freedom fighter who choose to do so, they were chosen to die. It is very easy to let the poor die while you live in your luxury villa and demand that more should die because it makes the people upset with the regime.

c) most Chinese wouldn't exchange their regime for a western one, the Chinese regime isn't as bad as it seems and in with loosing of many rights in the west it isn't that bad in compare.....And China isn't Myanmar. North Korea, Myanmar and China are 3 complete different things, not even similar.

Usually only Americans don't know about differences at countries ans systems....

[ratcatcher]

I reckon it may be too early to lift ALL the sanctions. Better ask Aung San Suu Kyi her opinion about the timing. It does seem unseemly for THAILAND to ask this.

Better don't ask her anything...she is already responsible for thousands of deads with her unreasonable backroom dealing for sanctions.

In two little words " Horse Hockey"

BTW the word is "deaths" and she ain't responsible for them!

[bigbamboo]

I reckon it may be too early to lift ALL the sanctions. Better ask Aung San Suu Kyi her opinion about the timing. It does seem unseemly for THAILAND to ask this.

Better don't ask her anything...she is already responsible for thousands of deads with her unreasonable backroom dealing for sanctions.

Curious that after Thein Sein cancels a trip to Thailand in a huff over ASSK's visit FM Surapong is seen batting for the Burmese.

[h90]

I reckon it may be too early to lift ALL the sanctions. Better ask Aung San Suu Kyi her opinion about the timing. It does seem unseemly for THAILAND to ask this.

Better don't ask her anything...she is already responsible for thousands of deads with her unreasonable backroom dealing for sanctions.

In two little words " Horse Hockey"

BTW the word is "deaths" and she ain't responsible for them!

if you lobby other countries to not allow products that let these people live be sold than you are responsible.

[gand]

Does Thailand represent them now? Do we really need more blood products?

[rubl]

Progress!

After 60 years Coca-cola will be available again in Myanmar. This will only leave North Korea and Cuba without the precious refreshment

[gand]

Progress!

After 60 years Coca-cola will be available again in Myanmar. This will only leave North Korea and Cuba without the precious refreshment

"Coca-Cola reaches more countries than there are in the United Nations"

Coca-Cola to begin business in Myanmar

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/coca-cola-begin-business-myanmar-185830863.html