Myan miffed U.S. calls it Burma

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	Myanmar miffed U.S. calls it Burma
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TOKYO, July 29 (UPI) _ Myanmar's foreign minister has criticized U.S. 
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright for continuing to use the name of 
Burma and not Myanmar when referring to his country.

Quoting an Asean official today, Japan's Kyodo News reports Ohn Gyaw told 
Albright in Kuala Lumpur that he would call the United States ``Old  
Mexico'' if she insisted using the name ``Burma'' instead of Myanmar.

The agency says Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon confirmed 
that Ohn Gyaw expressed irritation at those who continued to call the 
country by its old name.

The country's official name at the United Nations is the Union of Myanmar.

The Burmese minister made the protest Sunday at multilateral security 
talks between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its dialogue 
partners.

At that meeting Albright and others strongly criticized Burma's ruling 
junta for alleged human rights violations, drug production and 
suppression of the democratically elected National League for
Democracy.

The military rulers, who took power in a coup in September 1988, 
subsequently changed the name of the country to Myanmar from Burma.

The United States and some Western countries do not use the name Myanmar, 
since NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of murdered independence  
hero Gen. Aung San, won the election, but was ousted in the coup. 

(29 July 1997, ABC News)

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