EU beefs up Myanmar sanctions, adding judges, firms controlled by regime

September 30th, 2009 Myanmar's Suu Kyi seeks to meet Western diplomatsYANGON, Myanmar — Detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is seeking permission from Myanmar's government to meet with Western diplomats about having their countries lift sanctions against the military regime, her party said Monday. The request came in a letter she sent Friday to junta leader Senior Gen.

September 30th, 2009 US: Engagement won't replace sanctions in MyanmarWASHINGTON — The Obama administration says it will not ease harsh sanctions against military-run Myanmar (mee-an-MAWR') even as it pursues a new policy of dialogue with the Southeast Asian nation's ruling generals. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell says lifting sanctions without democratic progress in Myanmar "would be a mistake." Democratic Sen.

September 25th, 2009 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.

September 25th, 2009 Myanmar's Suu Kyi eases stance on sanctionsYANGON, Myanmar — Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi says she is willing to work with Myanmar's military government on getting Western sanctions against the country lifted, but needs to be allowed to gather more information about the issue first, her lawyer said Friday. Nyan Win, who is also a spokesman for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party, said after meeting the detained Nobel Peace Prize laureate Friday that she will send a letter to junta leader Senior Gen.

September 24th, 2009 Myanmar's Suu Kyi said to welcome new US approachYANGON, Myanmar — Detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi welcomes a U.S. initiative to step up contacts with Myanmar's military government, a spokesman for her political party said Thursday.

September 23rd, 2009 US changes track on MyanmarUNITED NATIONS — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that the Obama administration has decided to engage directly with Myanmar's junta as part of international efforts to promote democracy in the military-run state. Clinton made the announcement at the United Nations after meeting with her counterparts from a number of countries trying to convince the authoritarian regime to reform, allow dissent and release political prisoners, including Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

September 22nd, 2009 Thai leader says US moving toward engaging MyanmarNEW YORK — Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Tuesday that the United States and Europe appeared to be moving toward engaging Myanmar rather than a policy of sanctions only as a means of encouraging political change in the military-run country. Thailand shares a long border with Myanmar, and Abhisit told an audience at Columbia University he believes talks with the country's military leaders are the best way to affect political change, improve human rights and stem drug trafficking.

August 18th, 2009 Myanmar junta's media hail US senator's visitYANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar's government-controlled newspapers on Tuesday hailed the visit of U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, who secured the high-profile release of a jailed American, as "the first step" toward improving relations with Washington.

August 18th, 2009 Myanmar junta's media lauds US senator's visitYANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar's government-controlled newspapers on Tuesday lauded the visit of U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, who secured the high-profile release of a jailed American, as "the first step" toward improving relations with Washington.

July 29th, 2009 Obama renews sanctions against MyanmarWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has renewed sanctions against the junta that runs the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar. Congress last week approved the reauthorization of sanctions, first enacted in 2003, targeting imports from Myanmar.

July 22nd, 2009 House approves sanctions against MyanmarWASHINGTON — The House has voted to renew sanctions meant to penalize the junta that runs the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar, also called Burma. The resolution approving the reauthorization of the sanctions now goes to the Senate for consideration.

May 18th, 2009 BRUSSELS - European Union foreign ministers Monday condemned as a 'show trial' the legal process against Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. But they shied away from adding to the bloc's sanctions against the Myanmar military regime, saying that these had so far failed to have any significant impact on its actions, and that the EU should instead turn to regional powers such as China and India for help.

May 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has formally extended US sanctions against Myanmar amid latest tensions over detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi who was put on trial on charges of allowing a US national to visit her home without permission from the authorities. 'I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Burma (Myanmar), and maintain the sanctions against Yangon to respond to this threat,' Obama told the Congress.

April 27th, 2009 LUXEMBOURG - The European Union (EU) Monday extended sanctions against Myanmar by one year and repeated calls for the release of political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The EU sanctions - in place since 2006 - against Myanmar include a travel ban on top officials, an arms embargo and a freeze of the country's assets in Europe, EuAsiaNews reported.

January 19th, 2009 YANGON - The European Commission, executive body of the European Union (EU), has agreed to provide 40.5 million euros ($52.4 million) in humanitarian aid to Myanmar this year, with some of it aimed at assisting the Rohingya Muslims who are living 'in terrible conditions', officials said Tuesday. Of the 40.5 million euros allocated, some 22 million will go to assisting communities hard hit by Cyclone Nargis, which left 140,000 people dead and affected 2.4 million others in March 2008.