Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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August 18, 2009

Burma Hails US Senator's Visit as Success
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=26114DB:A6F02AD83191E1604716593F843AF2575C6F54A6CF9DC2CA&
 
'New Light of Myanmar' newspaper says in commentary that visit was
'first step towards marching to 1,000 mile destination' 
US Senator Jim Webb’s meeting with Burma's Chairman of the State Peace
and Development Council Senior Gen. Than Shwe, in Naypyidaw, 15 Aug
2009Burma's state-run media say a recent visit by U.S. Senator Jim Webb
was a success for both sides that could improve the tense relations
between the two countries. The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said
Tuesday in a commentary that the visit was "the first step towards
marching to a 1,000 mile destination."The Democratic senator on Sunday
secured the release of American John Yettaw, who was sentenced last week
to seven years hard labor for an unauthorized visit to the lakeside home
of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Webb said after leaving Burma with
Yettaw on Sunday that he too hoped his visit would lead to a new
approach in U.S.-Burma ties, including a possible loosening of economic
sanctions. Webb met with military leader Than Shwe Saturday and
unsuccessfully called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, who was
sentenced to another 18 months of house arrest in the Yettaw incident.
Thailand's foreign ministry issued a statement Tuesday welcoming the
release of the American and wishing Burma would also grant amnesty and
full freedom to Aung San Suu Kyi. The statement added that Thailand
viewed such leniency on the part of Burma, based on a humanitarian
reason, as a positive development.


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