New US Policy to Include Engagement, Sanctions: Clinton

WASHINGTON — Previewing the new US Burma policy with the 17-member UN Group of Friends on Burma in New York, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US will pursue a policy of “engagement” and “sanctions” simultaneously.

Clinton said on Wednesday the basic objectives of the US have not changed. She told reporters after the meeting: “Engagement versus sanctions is a false choice, in our opinion. So going forward, we will be employing both of those tools, pursuing our same goals.”

The United States plans to engage diplomatically with military-ruled Burma in addition to pursuing sanctions, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. (Photo: AFP)

The US policy seeks credible, democratic reform, immediate release of all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi and serious dialogue with opposition and minority ethnic groups, she said.

“To help achieve democratic reform, we will be engaging directly with Burmese authorities. This is a policy that has broad consensus across our government, and there will be more to report as we go forward,” Clinton said. “We believe that sanctions remain important as part of our policy, but by themselves, they have not produced the results that had been hoped for on behalf of the people of Burma.”

Referring to the new policy, Clinton said: “We will be offering more specifics about that. I wanted to preview this policy for our partners in the Friends of Burma group, and also to signal that the United States will be moving in a direction of both engagement and continued sanctions, to be sure that the Burmese leaders—some of whom, as you know, are in our country or about to come to our country—understand where we are in our policy review process.”

Clinton urged the members participating in the meeting to take a measured approach to Burma’s 2010 elections until, “We can assess electoral conditions and determine whether opposition and ethnic groups will participate.” 

She said the Burmese election should not be dismissed at this time. “At the same time, we should continue discussions with the Burmese authorities to emphasize that the international community will only recognize the planned 2010 elections as a positive step to the extent that the Burmese authorities allow full participation by members of Burma’s opposition and ethnic minority groups.”

She said, “Any debate that pits sanctions against engagement creates a false choice.  Going forward, we’ll need to employ both of these tools.

“Lifting sanctions now would send the wrong signal, and we will maintain our existing sanctions until we see concrete progress towards reform. But we will be willing to discuss the easing of sanctions in response to significant actions on the part of Burma’s generals that address the core human rights and democracy issues that are inhibiting Burma’s progress,” she said.

More engagement with the West will encourage new thinking, reform and participation in the work of the international community, she said: “To help Burma achieve genuine democratic reform, we must be willing to engage directly with the Burmese authorities.”

Clinton said the US Burma policy will draw on familiar themes and tools: engagement, appropriate sanctions and humanitarian assistance.

“The aim of the United States is not to impose its will on the Burmese people, but to ensure that they can live in a unified, peaceful, and prosperous country, led by a democratic government that respects the rights of its citizens,” she said.

“Our support for the country’s democratic opposition, including Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy, will not waver,” Clinton said.