Obama finally lifts all economic sanctions on Myanmar
by Arno Maierbrugger - Oct 8, 2016
US President Barack Obama on October 7 finally announced the lifting of US sanctions on Myanmar, acknowledging that the country has pursued political reforms over the last five years following decades of oppressive military rule.
"I have determined that the situation that gave rise to the national emergency… has been significantly altered by Myanmar's substantial advances to promote democracy, including historic elections in November 2015," Obama said in a letter to the US House and Senate speakers.
Formally, Obama terminated an emergency order that deemed the policies of the former military government a threat to US national security.
The move followed a meeting between Myanmar's de facto-leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Obama in Washington last month, when she called for the lifting of economic sanctions against her country, and he said he was willing to do this.
A US Treasury statement said that as a result of the termination of the emergency order the economic and financial sanctions administered by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control were no longer in effect.
However, officials of the US administration said the removal of sanctions would not apply to military-to-military assistance, given the extent of the military's involvement in politics and rights abuses. The State Department said last month that several restrictions would remain in place, including barring visas for military leaders.
US President Barack Obama on October 7 finally announced the lifting of US sanctions on Myanmar, acknowledging that the country has pursued political reforms over the last five years following decades of oppressive military rule. "I have determined that the situation that gave rise to the national emergency... has been significantly altered by Myanmar's substantial advances to promote democracy, including historic elections in November 2015," Obama said in a letter to the US House and Senate speakers. Formally, Obama terminated an emergency order that deemed the policies of the former military government a threat to US national security. The move...
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