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| Southeast Asia |
| Obama nominates ambassador to Burma |
| 2012-05-19 |
| President Obama announced Thursday that he's nominated the first U.S. ambassador to Burma in 22 years and will ease investment restrictions on the former pariah state. Hailing the move as a "new chapter" in U.S. relations with Burma, aka Myanmar, Obama announced that he was tapping Derek Mitchell to be his envoy. Mitchell presently serves as the special representative and policy coordinator for Burma. Obama noted the parliamentary election of opposition figure Aung San Suu Kyi as an example of progress but cautioned that he had concerns about Burma's closed political system, its treatment of minorities and detention of political prisoners and its relationship with North Korea. "Since I announced a new U.S. opening to Burma in November, President Thein Sein, Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma have made significant progress along the path to democracy," Obama said in a statement. "The United States has pledged to respond to positive developments in Burma and to clearly demonstrate America's commitment to the future of an extraordinary country, a courageous people and universal values. That is what we are doing. " Two top Republicans — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. John McCain — praised the president's move. Both lawmakers have been outspoken critics over the years of the military junta. |
| Posted by:Steve White |