State Department Discusses U.S. Burma Policy, Sanctions

The State Department's Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs discussed the Administration's review of Burma policy. The U.S. will maintain existing sanctions until concrete progress towards reform is made. The Assistant Secretary further explained that lifting sanctions now would send the wrong signal. The U.S. will discuss easing sanctions only if Burma takes action on core U.S. concerns, and will reserve the option to apply additional targeted sanctions, if warranted by events inside Burma.