Thai FM proposes US to lift sanctions against Myanmar

WASHINGTON, June 15 (TNA) - Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has proposed that the US government lift all its sanctions against Myanmar to show Washington's endorsement of Myanmar's positive and proper changes. The Thai foreign minister, who is paying an official visit to the United States from June 11-17, told a TNA reporter on Thursday that he made the proposal at a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who noted that Washington needs to follow legal procedures and its sanctions against Myanmar will not, probably, to be totally lift. At the meeting, Surapong acknowledged, Clinton highlighted and expressed her appreciation to longstanding bilateral relations between Bangkok and Washington over the past 179 years. The Thai foreign minister said that further cooperation between the United States and Thailand on trade and investment, security, peace, human rights and flood-prevention measures were also discussed, and that he also called for the United States to continue supporting Myanmar refugees at nine temporary shelters in Thailand near the border with neighbouring Myanmar. Meanwhile, Clinton announced that a team of US business operators will accompany her to attend the forthcoming ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, from July 21-25, saying that she hoped to meet Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the regional stage.(TNA)