NEWS - Japan tells Myanmar aid easi

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Subject: NEWS - Japan tells Myanmar aid easier if more democratic

Japan tells Myanmar aid easier if more democratic

  
TOKYO, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Japan held summit-level talks with Myanmar for
the first time in 15 years on Sunday and told the military government
there that it would be easier to give aid if the country was more
democratic. 

Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi held a brief meeting with General
Than Shwe, the head of Myanmar's ruling State Peace & Development
Council (SPDC), on the sidelines of a summit of Southeast Asian leaders
and their regional dialogue partners in Manila. 

Obuchi told Than Shwe that he wanted the democratisation process in
Myanmar to move forward in a ``visible'' way, a Japanese official told
reporters. 

Obuchi also said Myanmar's economy was in a dire condition, and offered
to provide help should the government take up economic structural reform
seriously. 

``I would like General Than Shwe to take the initiative on pushing ahead
with economic reform. We can have our government officials discuss
specific measures of assistance,'' Obuchi was quoted as saying. 

But Obuchi also added that it would become easier for Tokyo to provide
help if Myanmar speeded up the democratisation process in a way which
would be clear to the Japanese people. 

Than Shwe told Obuchi that stabilising the economy was paramount, adding
that unless there was economic development, no form of government would
succeed, whether democratic or not. 

``We are still in the middle of our path (towards democracy),'' Than
Shwe was quoted as saying. 

The last meeting between leaders of Japan and Myanmar took place in
1984, but Tokyo has taken a softer approach towards Myanmar than the
West, opting for engagement rather than sanctions. 

As a result, Japan is seen to have gained more confidence and trust from
Myanmar's military government than the West, political analysts say. 

While Washington has maintained sanctions against Myanmar since May 1997
for its human rights record, Tokyo lifted a freeze on economic aid in
1995 after pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released
from house arrest. 

Japan also gave Myanmar a 2.5 billion yen ($23.9 million) loan in March
1998 for safety projects at Yangon Airport, and a 800 million yen loan
for a food production project. 

06:13 11-28-99