Australian FM to Visit Myanmar

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, September 29, 2002

Australian FM to Visit Myanmar

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer will pay an official visit to Myanmar in the near future, an official announcement said in Yangon Sunday without disclosing the date of his visit.

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Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer will pay an official visit to Myanmar in the near future, an official announcement said in Yangon Sunday without disclosing the date of his visit.

However, it is confirmed by the Australian side that the minister will pay a two-day visit to the country starting next Wednesday.

It will be the first Australian minister to visit Myanmar sincethe Myanmar military government took over the power of state on Sept. 18, 1988.

During his trip, Downer will meet Myanmar government officials and exchange views with them on bilateral relations and regional issues of common interest.

In addition, Downer will also meet opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK), general secretary of the National League for Democracy (NLD), resident representatives of UN organizations and non-governmental organizations.

The Australian minister said in its recent statement, "My visitto Burma (Myanmar) will enable me to obtain a first-hand impression of the current situation including the humanitarian situation and to register Australia's support for political reconciliation and greater respect for human rights."

Like other western countries, the Australian government has notyet lifted its sanctions against Myanmar.

On May 6 this year, the Myanmar military government set ASSK free from 19-month house arrest. Australia welcomed the move, hoping that the Myanmar government would release all political prisoners and bring about the early realization of national reconciliation.

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