Suu Kyi party calls for talks on sanctions

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- The party of Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi called for discussions with Western countries on any changes to the existing sanctions.

The sanctions directed against the military-led government were put in place to press for democratic reforms.

In its review of the sanctions the National League for Democracy, the party of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi, called for "discussions with the United States, the European Union, Canada and Australia with a view to reaching agreement on when, how and under what circumstances sanctions might be modified in the interests of democracy, human rights and a healthy economic environment."

The NLD, on its Web site, said the international community has long expressed a wish to see Burma, former name of Myanmar, progress along the road to democracy and economic prosperity.

The party boycotted November's elections, widely criticized in Myanmar and outside as a sham designed only to strengthen the hold of the junta, which has ruled the country since 1962. Results showed about 80 percent of the votes went to members and supporters of the military-backed party.

The NLD said there have been calls recently for the removal of sanctions by some organizations and nations but said such calls "seem to have been motivated by political considerations" as available evidence indicated economic conditions in the country have not been affected by the sanctions to any notable degree.

"As the major causes of sanctions are violations of human rights and lack of democratic practices, it is by dealing effectively with these issues that the removal of sanctions can best be effected," it said.