Sarkozy calls for tough EU sanctions on Myanmar

October 7th, 2009 YANGON - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi met Wednesday with a representative of the ruling junta to discuss her proposals to get sanctions dropped against the regime that has kept her under house arrest for 14 years, sources said. Relations Minister Aung Kyi met the Nobel laureate at the Seinle Kantha Guesthouse for about 25 minutes Wednesday afternoon, government sources confirmed.

September 30th, 2009 US: talks with Myanmar won't replace sanctionsWASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Wednesday it will not relax harsh sanctions against military-run Myanmar even as it pursues a new policy of direct talks with the Southeast Asian nation's generals. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, the top U.S.

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 30th, 2009 LONDON - Burmese pro-democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is in prison for opposing army rule, has urged the ruling military junta to increase cooperation with her pro-democracy opposition in order to find a way to end sanctions on the country. In a letter addressed to senior general Than Shwe, Suu Kyi has sought permission to meet foreign ambassadors from those countries that have imposed sanctions to better understand their reasons.

September 28th, 2009 YANGON - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has requested permission from the ruling junta to talk about lifting economic sanctions with the US, Australia and the European (EU), opposition sources said Monday. Suu Kyi, who is currently under house detention, made the request in a letter sent to junta chief Senior General Than Shwe, the National League for Democracy (NLD) opposition party revealed.

September 26th, 2009 UN urges Asian nations to get tougher on MyanmarUNITED NATIONS — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged a ministerial meeting of southeast Asian nations late Saturday to take a tougher line with fellow member Myanmar in hopes its military junta will free political prisoners and hold fair elections. Ban said it is in the best interest of the rest of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to lean on Myanmar to free political prisoners, including democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

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 25th, 2009 Sarkozy gives Iran December deadlinePITTSBURGH — French Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy says Iran faces possible new international sanctions if it doesn't come clean on its nuclear program by December. Sarkozy said that Iran was in clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions in building a second plant to manufacture nuclear fuel and trying to hide if from the world for years.

September 25th, 2009 PITTSBURGH - US President Barack Obama said Friday the size of a second Iranian nuclear plant revealed this week is "inconsistent" with claims that it is being used to produce civilian nuclear power. Speaking at the G20 summit and standing alongside British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Obama said the "disturbing" news of the second facility demonstrates Tehran's willingness to deceive the world and violate international norms.

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 31st, 2009 BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy Monday called for tougher sanctions against Iran, if the country fails enter talks on its nuclear programme ahead of a September deadline. "We have supported (US) President Obama's outstretched hand to the Iranian leaders, but this hand cannot remain extended indefinitely to leaders who do not respond," Sarkozy added.

August 14th, 2009 YANGON - US Senator Jim Webb has arrived in Myanmar to hold talks with the country's military leadership, according to an official statement Friday. Webb's visit, the first such visit of a US Congress member to Myanmar in over a decade, is aimed at exploring opportunities to advance US interests in Myanmar and the region.

June 11th, 2009 Obama nominee indicates possible change on MyanmarWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's choice as top U.S. diplomat for East Asia said Wednesday the United States is interested in easing its long-standing policy of isolation against military-run Myanmar.