Asean chief welcomes US visit to Burma

Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan welcomes US officials visit to Burma and described it as a golden opportunity for the region.

"This is a seismic change for the region's diplomacy," said Surin in referring to the two-day visit of Kurt Campbell, Assistant State

Secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affair and Scott Marciel, the US Ambassador for Asean.

He said the visit opens up potentially a wide opportunity on the horizon for both Asean and Burma. "We hope that the Myanmarese

(Burmese) leadership and the opposition will recognize that golden opportunity for all us in the region," he said.

But he pointed out that it will take two to tango. "Now that a space has been open up, some obstructive pieces have been removed I hope all key players on the stalemated chess board of Myanmar issue will adjust their strategies and made the right moves forward," he said.

The Asean chief was referring to the US latest move on Burma. Washington has made an offer to relax some restrictive measures to pressure Myanmar by previous US administrations.

"I have told Prime Minister Thien Sein that all Asean member states would be rdeady to extend hands in whatever form appropriate to make

sure that the planned election next year would be accepted by the Myanmarese people and lead to a genuine reconciliation."