US Lawmakers Meet With Aung San Suu Kyi, Speak Out on Myanmar Sanctions


Who:Aung San Suu Kyi and U.S lawmarkers
Where:In U.S
When:On Thursday 
 How:To lift economic sanctions on the country formerly known as Burma.



U.S. lawmakers met Thursday with Myanmar’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and expressed mixed reactions to President Barack Obama’s intention to lift economic sanctions on the country formerly known as Burma.


Aung San Suu Kyi held separate talks with prominent House and Senate members of both parties at the Capitol. Sanctions played prominently in the discussions, according to several lawmakers who spoke with VOA afterward.


“The message was clear, that Burma’s a different country today than it was when those sanctions were imposed,” said Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee.


Cardin stressed that America’s attention is still needed in Myanmar, but that U.S. influence can be exerted more with carrots than sticks.

“There is a continued role for the United States, but it’s going to be in a much more positive way,” he said.

“The president acted unilaterally [lifting sanctions] in a way that was unfortunate,” said Republican Cory Gardner, chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific. 

“There are a number of concerns with military involvement and crony business operatives participating in illicit activities that warrant continued sanctioning."

“We should make sure that the military doesn’t have access to ways to enrich itself, as it has been for decades, and to make sure that we continue to provide leverage against the bad actors who have created so much difficulty for the people of Burma,” Gardner added.

Location: http://www.voanews.com/a/suu-kyi-meets-with-congressional-leaders-after-talks-with-obama-on-lifting-sanctions/3510132.html

Key words: 

VOA( Voice of America) : 美國之音

carrots than sticks:軟硬兼施

unilaterally [lifting sanctions]:單方面貿易制裁

illicit activities :非法活動