WASHINGTON: Myanmar’s leader plans a landmark visit to Washington this month, a source said yesterday, as the United States eased visa restrictions in a sign of support despite a surge in anti-Muslim violence.
President Thein Sein, who would be the first leader of the country to visit in half a century, is planning to be in the American capital around May 20 or May 21, a staff member at the US Congress said on condition of anonymity.
The trip would include a summit with President Barack Obama at the White House.
In another step towards thawing relations, Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday ended a 1996 ban on US visas to Myanmar nationals accused of hindering democracy during the country’s decades of harsh military rule.
Separate restrictions remain on visas for nationals accused of human rights violations. A State Department official said the 1996 ban was overly broad by including government workers, officers and even some pensioners.
“Clearly many people in those categories are now contributing to the reform process and need to engage” through visits to the United States, the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
The US decisions recognise “the important changes the government of Burma has made and encourage and empower the government and the people of Burma to continue on the path of political and economic reform,” he said.
The congressional source said the administration was considering further steps during Thein Sein’s visit, such as starting to call the nation Myanmar, the leadership’s preferred usage, and not the earlier name of Burma favoured by exile groups.
The United States is also looking at whether to include Myanmar in the Generalised System of Preferences, through which it offers duty-free access for up to 5,000 products from developing countries that meet labour standards.
It would be the first visit to Washington by a head of the country since military leader Ne Win was invited in 1966 by president Lyndon Johnson.
Thein Sein has previously visited the United States to attend the UN General Assembly, but only held meetings in New York.
While Obama has suspended most sanctions, he issued a declaration on Thursday that keeps measures on the books, allowing the United States to reimpose them in response to setbacks.
The European Union last week dropped virtually all of its sanctions against Myanmar with the exception of a military embargo.
AFP
