AP – In this image made available by the United States Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar's detained opposition leader
YANGON, Myanmar – A top U.S. official visiting Myanmar warned Monday that its military regime should abide by U.N. sanctions that prohibit buying arms from North Korea, and also said the junta's election plans lack legitimacy.
Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asia, read a statement to the press as he prepared to leave Myanmar after holding nearly two hours of closed-door talks with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party was disbanded last week as a result of its refusal to register for the polls, slated for sometime this year.
He did not reveal details of their talks, but praised her nonviolent struggle for democracy.
"She has demonstrated compassion and tolerance for her captors in the face of repeated indignities," he said. "It is simply tragic that Burma's generals have rebuffed her countless appeals to work together to find a peaceable solution for a more prosperous future." Burma is another name for Myanmar.
Campbell earlier held talks with several Cabinet ministers.
The U.S. envoy issued what appeared to be Washington's strongest warning to date concerning Myanmar's arms purchases from North Korea, which some analysts suspect includes nuclear technology.
A U.N. Security Council resolution bans all North Korean arms exports, authorizes member states to inspect North Korean sea, air and land cargo and requires them to seize and destroy any goods transported in violation of the sanctions.
Campbell said that Myanmar leadership had agree to abide by the U.N. resolution, but that "recent developments" called into question its commitment. He said he sought the junta's agreement to "a transparent process to assure the international community that Burma is abiding by its international commitments."
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Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asia, read a statement to the press as he prepared to leave Myanmar after holding nearly two hours of closed-door talks with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party was disbanded last week as a result of its refusal to register for the polls, slated for sometime this year.
He did not reveal details of their talks, but praised her nonviolent struggle for democracy.
"She has demonstrated compassion and tolerance for her captors in the face of repeated indignities," he said. "It is simply tragic that Burma's generals have rebuffed her countless appeals to work together to find a peaceable solution for a more prosperous future." Burma is another name for Myanmar.
Campbell earlier held talks with several Cabinet ministers.
The U.S. envoy issued what appeared to be Washington's strongest warning to date concerning Myanmar's arms purchases from North Korea, which some analysts suspect includes nuclear technology.
A U.N. Security Council resolution bans all North Korean arms exports, authorizes member states to inspect North Korean sea, air and land cargo and requires them to seize and destroy any goods transported in violation of the sanctions.
Campbell said that Myanmar leadership had agree to abide by the U.N. resolution, but that "recent developments" called into question its commitment. He said he sought the junta's agreement to "a transparent process to assure the international community that Burma is abiding by its international commitments."
Please read details story HERE
