The Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is due to address the British Parliament when she visits the country next month, marking the first time she will leave Burma in 24 years.
The historic trip by the Nobel peace prize winner follows British Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit to Burma last month and the recent thaw in Burma’s international relations following its dramatic democratic reforms.
On Friday night, Mr Cameron was also reported to have told G8 meeting at Camp David that Britian, the world’s largest bilateral donor to Burma, would continue its policy of not giving aid directly to the Burmese government and urged other countries to do the same.
His call follows US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, calling on US businesses to invest in Burma, but to do so “responsibly”, after decades of sanctions being placed on the country.
Aung San Suu Kyi told a Washington conference earlier this week that though sanctions were lifted and steps towards reform were made, they were “not irreversible”.
She stated that the lifting of sanctions was “a way of sending a strong message” for the reforms, saying,
The historic trip by the Nobel peace prize winner follows British Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit to Burma last month and the recent thaw in Burma’s international relations following its dramatic democratic reforms.
On Friday night, Mr Cameron was also reported to have told G8 meeting at Camp David that Britian, the world’s largest bilateral donor to Burma, would continue its policy of not giving aid directly to the Burmese government and urged other countries to do the same.
His call follows US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, calling on US businesses to invest in Burma, but to do so “responsibly”, after decades of sanctions being placed on the country.
Aung San Suu Kyi told a Washington conference earlier this week that though sanctions were lifted and steps towards reform were made, they were “not irreversible”.
She stated that the lifting of sanctions was “a way of sending a strong message” for the reforms, saying,
“I’m not against the suspension of sanctions as long as the people of the United States feel that this is the right thing to do at the moment… I believe sanctions have been effective in persuading the government to go for change.”
"There should be no political prisoners in Burma if they really aim for democratization.”