- Title: JAPAN: Talks with Aung San-Suu Kyi in Myanmar a first step, U.S. says
- Date: 6th November 2009
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (NOVEMBER 5, 2009) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS SOME FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY OF JAPAN U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE KURT CAMPBELL WALKING INTO THE MEETING ROOM AND SHAKING HANDS WITH JAPAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER KATSUYA OKADA DELEGATES TALKING SEATS AT THE TABLE OKADA TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS KURT CAMPBELL SAYING: "I had the chance to not only meet with the senior players inside the government, I had the opportunity also to meet with ethnic groups, opposition parties, and also had a two-hour meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi. So, its a first step, exploratory mission, to lay out an overall approach to the appropriate stake holders inside the country." DELEGATES AT THEIR SEATS CAMPBELL WALKING OUT OF THE BUILDING CAR CARRYING CAMPBELL DRIVING AWAY
- Embargoed: 21st November 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA1VRLMRBDCMSLRF5GJW95XJBSX
- Story Text: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said on Thursday (November 5) that his visit to Myanmar on the previous day was a first step to finding an appropriate approach to the politically isolated country.
"I had the chance to not only meet with the senior players inside the government, I had the opportunity also to meet with ethnic groups, opposition parties, and also had a two-hour meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi. So, its a first step, exploratory mission, to lay out an overall approach to the appropriate stake holders inside the country," Campbell told Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada during the meeting in Tokyo a day after his trip to Myanmar.
The U.S. visit, the first of its kind in 14 years, came as part of a new policy of engagement by the Obama administration and was described as an "exploratory mission" by Washington.
The U.S. has repeatedly said that they had no immediate plans to lift wide-ranging sanctions on Myanmar but said the embargoes would be reviewed, depending on reforms.
The delegation met senior junta officials, ethnic groups, the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi during the visit.
Campbell did not elaborate on what was discussed, or why they failed to meet junta supremo Than Shwe.
Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner held captive for 14 of the last 20 years, was offered a rare chance to meet NLD committee members on Wednesday (November 4), but declined because its detained vice-chairman, Tin Oo, was excluded, state television reported. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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