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    February 17, 2012

EU Eases Burma Sanctions

   VOA News

   The European Union on Friday eased some sanctions against Burma in
   response to political reforms initiated by the Southeast Asian
   country's nominally-civilian government, which took power last year.
   The Council of the European Union says it has suspended visa
   restrictions on 87 top Burmese officials, including the president, vice
   presidents, members of parliament and their family members. The move
   follows the government's release of hundreds of political prisoners in
   January.
   EU spokesman Michael Mann described a climate of hope in EU dealings
   with the new government, after decades of repressive military rule.
   "We are hoping that [the sanctions easement] will encourage the regime
   in Burma-Myanmar to make further reforms and to release further
   prisoners," said Mann. "We are currently reviewing our policy, our
   overall policy on Burma-Myanmar, and, you know, we will take decisions
   in the coming months depending on what happens on the ground."
   The new Burmese government has also cleared the way for democracy
   leader Aung San Suu Kyi to run for public office in by-elections April
   1. The Nobel laureate had spent much of the past two decades under
   house arrest, gaining her release in late 2010 as the military junta
   relinquished power.