US says sanctions weren't violated when Sec of State Kerry stayed at blacklisted Myanmar hotel

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — The U.S. says Secretary of State John Kerry did not break any rules when he stayed in a glitzy hotel owned by a tycoon blacklisted because of ties to Myanmar's former military regime.

 

In a country where cronies own almost all the biggest and best-known firms — including hotels in the capital Naypyitaw — Kerry would have been hard-pressed to find anywhere else to stay during the gathering of Southeast Asian foreign ministers this past weekend.

 

Continues here:- http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2014/08/12/john-kerry-stayed-at-us-blacklisted-myanmar-hotel

"includes an exemption for activities related to travel, including hotel accommodations..."

 

Because that wouldn't be supporting them or putting money in their pockets right?

 

There ARE hotels in Naypyitaw that are not owned (or run) by SDN's. Perhaps those hotels didn't have the requisite jacuzzi? Or was it the lack of 'girls' for the secret service? You be the judge!!

4 Myanmar Hotels Kerry Could Have Booked Whose Owners Aren’t on US Blacklist

Secretary of State John Kerry may have unintentionally helped a blacklisted individual in Myanmar just by checking into a hotel there last week.

 

The Lake Garden hotel, assigned to the US delegation when they stayed in the country last week for the ASEAN ministerial meeting, is owned by Zaw Zaw, a man whose company and personal accounts are subject to US financial sanctions over his connections with Myanmar’s former military regime. Kerry was traveling with five senior officials, and likely more staff as well, bringing the group’s minimum possible overnight expenses, for six of the hotel’s cheapest rooms, to just under $800, some of which may have ended up being pocketed by the blacklisted tycoon himself.

 

Story continues here:- http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/08/4-myanmar-hotels-kerry-could-have-booked-that-arent-on-us-blacklist/

 

Hotel owned by blacklisted businessman was only option, embassy says

The United States Embassy in Yangon said that it failed to recognise early enough that a hotel it was assigned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was owned and constructed by a blacklisted businessman, leaving no option but to use the venue to host Secretary of State John Kerry last weekend.

 

The Myanmar Times reported on August 10 that Mr Kerry stayed at the Lake Garden Hotel Nay Pyi Taw owned by sanctioned tycoon U Zaw Zaw and constructed by U Zaw Zaw's company Max Myanmar, which also appears on the US sanctions list.

 

Story continues here:- http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/11346-late-recognition-of-blacklisted-owner-caused-hotel-issue-embassy-says.html