January 24th, 2012
01:13 AM ET

EU to lift travel restrictions on Myanmar leaders

European foreign ministers said Monday that they would loosen travel restrictions on senior members of the Myanmar government in recognition of the Southeast Asian country's recent efforts at political reform after decades of military rule.

Describing the Myanmar government's program of changes as "remarkable," the foreign ministers said they had decided to suspend a visa ban on the country's president, vice presidents, Cabinet members and speakers of Parliament. The European Union ministers met in Brussels to discuss Myanmar and other issues.

In recent weeks, the Myanmar regime has pardoned hundreds of political prisoners, approved the participation of the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her party in April elections and pledged to pursue a peace deal with an ethnic rebel group.

Western governments have applauded the effort, with the United States announcing this month that it would exchange ambassadors with Myanmar for the first time since 1988.

FULL STORY

Filed under: World
soundoff (2 Responses)
  1. Bouna Sera' Wine Bar

    Keeping a dictatorial Ideology would have ended it bloodshed and a pathetic video speech followed by a brutal death in the likes of Kadahfi.

    January 24, 2012 at 10:55 am | Report abuse |
  2. Chumlee

    Now, can all the refugees who are in the US living off US taxpayers be shipped back to Myanmar where they
    belong? Where they cowardly left instead of fighting for their country?

    We do not need refugee/immigrant dependency in the U.S. If they come here for welfare, Section 8, health care, etc.,
    etc., they should not be allowed into our country.

    The US needs to take care of our citizens first. Return the Myanmar refugees now and free US taxpayers of this
    burden.

    January 24, 2012 at 11:49 am | Report abuse |
« Back to main