Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi asked the three Western diplomats she met in Rangoon on Friday what the aims were of the economic sanctions their countries imposed on Burma, according to an NLD spokesman.
The three diplomats were Australia’s charge d’ affaires, Simon Starr, together with the Britain ambassador, Andrew Heyn, and the US deputy head of mission. They held talks with Suu Kyi at a state guesthouse near Suu Kyi’s home for one hour.
The meeting was the first opportunity for a substantive discussion between Australian officials and Suu Kyi since February 2003, said the Australian embassy in a statement.
A spokesman for Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), Nyan Win, said he was briefed by the diplomats in his office on Friday evening about the meeting.
He said the diplomats said that they had been asked by Suu Kyi to clarify what the aims of their economic sanctions were.
Suu Kyi also asked the diplomat when and how many sanction did their governments imposed on Burma and what the consequences of sanction are, he added.
“She [Suu Kyi] said that she wanted the data belonging to the sanctions,” Nyan Win recalled.
The diplomats said they replied that they would provide as much information as possible as soon as they could, he added.
Nyan Win said he and other central executive committee members of the NLD later held talks with the three diplomats for about 30 minutes. He said he viewed the meeting with optimism and was hopeful for positive results for the nation.
“We welcome the talks and see them optimistically,” he said.
“We can discuss and negotiate what we need. We will understand each other if we hold meetings like this. And we can do good things for our country,” he added.
In September, Suu Kyi sent a letter to Snr-Gen Than Shwe seeking permission to meet Western and Australian ambassadors to discuss a possible end to sanctions.
After the letter, the ruling junta twice allowed her to meet with Aung Kyi, the Burmese junta’s “Minister of Relations.”. The latest meeting was on Wednesday.
Rumors are spreading in Rangoon that Than Shwe might meet with Suu Kyi and many, including some NLD leaders, hoped the two would hold a meeting.
Asked, Nyan Win said, “It is best if Snr-Gen Than Shwe and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi hold talks.”
The rest of NLD’s central committee members who met with the diplomats were Khin Maung Swe, Hla Pe, Soe Myint, Lun Tin and Than Tun.
Some Burmese officials were also introduced during the meeting between Suu Kyi and the diplomats, according to the Australian embassy in Rangoon.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade released a statement on Friday calling the talks a “constructive meeting” that may lay the groundwork for further contact.
The Australian government said it sees the move as a positive step by the both the Burmese authorities and Suu Kyi.
Australia is willing to contribute in ways that assist further dialogue and progress toward national reconciliation, democratic reform, and the long-term security and stability of Burma, according to the embassy statement.
During the meeting, Australia’s representative conveyed a message from his prime minister which expressed the support of his government and the people of Australia for Suu Kyi and her struggle for democracy in Burma.
irrawaddy
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