Phuket, Thailand (mizzima)— US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has expressed grave concern over possible transfer of nuclear technology from North Korea to Burma, even as she promised cooperation in various sectors in Southeast Asia.
She was addressing a press conference at the 42nd Asean Foreign Ministers and partners meet in Phuket, in the southern province of Thailand.
“Hopefully, we will build a deeper and more dynamic partnership with Asean and that’s why I am here today. United States is back in Southeast Asia and President Obama and I believe that this region is vital to global progress, peace and prosperity. We are fully engaged with Asean partners on the wide range of challenges confronting us from regional to global security, economic crisis, human rights, and climate changes,” she said.
Clinton fielded reporter’s questions on Burma by stating that Asean is moving in a very positive direction with the increase in emphasis on human rights that it is committed to. This is welcome, she added.
“Burma is moving in a direction opposite to that of other Asean countries. We have been very clear in stating that United States would like to see changes in the behaviour of the Burmese regime. In Bangkok I expressed concern over the cooperation between North Korea and Burma in the pursuit of offensive weapons including nuclear weapons,” she said.
Clinton hinted at the possibility of improvement of relationship between US and Burma if there are changes in the political environment of the military ruled country. There are a lot of issues that Burma can address for the entire region not for the US alone. The US, she said, calls for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi because “we believe it is very important.”
“If she is released it will open up opportunities for my country for developing a relationship with Burma including investments in Burma. We should stay focused to try and convince the Burmese leadership that they have a better future by moving away from isolation and treating their people better and allowing for free and fair elections next year,” Clinton added.
In an interview to TV Channel 9, Mass Communication Organization of Thailand on Wednesday night, Clinton clarified that the US is worried about the possibility of transfer of nuclear weapons technology to Burma.
“We are worried about the transfer of nuclear technology from North Korea to Burma,” she said.
The weapons programme was a big threat to US and its allies. If North Korea pursues nuclear tests there would be a ‘chain reaction’ in the rest of the world and other countries will accumulate such weapons.
