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             US Official: Washington Stands With People of Myanmar

   by VOA News

   [1]U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States
   will work closely with the new government of Myanmar, saying it is
   committed to standing with the people in their pursuit of democracy,
   development and national reconciliation.

   Speaking at a news conference in Myanmar's capital, Naypitaw, Monday,
   Blinken, who is the first U.S. envoy to visit since last year's
   landmark polls, urged the existing government to complete the
   transitional process and to release all the political prisoners.

   "One of the great legacies of this government is the work that it has
   done and reform broadly and releasing the political prisoners in
   particular," said Blinken. "And it would be a fitting completion of
   that legacy to release all political prisoners so that by the time the
   transition is complete and new government takes office no one is in
   jail because of their political views."

   Blinken met with President Thein Sein, National League for Democracy
   leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other top officials and offered
   congratulations on holding a "peaceful" and successful poll.

   "The results are testament to the decades-long commitment of Aung San
   Suu Kyi and the NLD to the north star of democracy," said Blinken.
   "This is a moment of great opportunity - a moment for all of Myanmar's
   political leaders to work together to for a new government and address
   differences through dialogue."

   In the meetings, talks also focused on the country's economic
   challenges, the peace process and political dialogue between the
   government and ethnic nationalities.

   After nearly five decades of military-rule, Aung San Suu Kyi's National
   League for Democracy won a majority of parliamentary seats in the
   country's November 8 election, becoming the country's first
   democratically elected government.

   Some material for this report came from AP and AFP.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [2]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-official-washington-stands-with-pe
   ople-of-myanmar/3152902.html

References

   1. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/01/251348.htm
   2. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-official-washington-stands-with-people-of-myanmar/3152902.html