United States Ready to Exchange Ambassadors with Myanmar
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Win McNamee/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — As a result of the steps Myanmar’s leaders have taken in recent days, releasing political prisoners and striking peace deals with rebel groups, the Obama administration is prepared to begin the process of swapping ambassadors with the once-reclusive country, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Friday.
“In consultation with members of Congress and at the direction of President Obama, we will start the process of exchanging ambassadors with Burma. We will identify a candidate to serve as U.S. ambassador to represent the United States government and our broader efforts to strengthen and deepen our ties with both the people and the government,” Clinton said Friday morning.
The secretary of state said this would not happen right away. “This is a lengthy process and it will, of course, depend on continuing progress and reform. But American — an American ambassador will help strengthen our efforts to support the historic and promising steps that are now unfolding,” she said.
Clinton also said that she’s directed her staff to identify “further steps that the United States can take in conjunction with our friends and allies to support the reforms under way.”
On Friday, Myanmar freed more than 600 political prisoners, some of whom had been held for two decades.
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