Suu Kyi welcomes U.S. engagement policy

YANGON, Myanmar, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- A new U.S. policy to directly engage with the military government in Myanmar was welcomed by detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The new policy announced this week by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would not, however, remove current sanctions against Myanmar, formerly called Burma.

"It's a good thing, I accept that, but it must be the right engagement on both sides of the junta and the opposition," Suu Kyi said in a statement released through her attorney and party spokesman U Nyan Win, CNN reported.

Clinton, after discussing Myanmar at the U.N. General Assembly, told reporters the sanctions remain an important part of the new U.S. policy.

"Engagement versus sanctions is a false choice, in our opinion. So going forward, we will be employing both of those tools, pursuing our same goals," she said.

Clinton also said the United States is not changing its Myanmar objectives under its new policy. They include credible, democratic reform, the immediate, unconditional release of political prisoners, including Suu Kyi, and serious dialogue with the opposition and minority ethnic groups.'