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VOA-U-S-BURMA-SANCTIONS -GARY THOMA



DATE=9/28/98
U-S-BURMA-SANCTIONS -GARY THOMAS-BANGKOK
 

INTRO:  A SENIOR U-S DIPLOMAT SAYS THERE IS A REASSESSMENT WITHIN
THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE USEFULNESS OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AS A 
MEANS TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE.  BUT AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT GARY 
THOMAS REPORTS FROM BANGKOK, HE ALSO SAYS SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA
ARE A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE.

TEXT:  ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS 
AFFAIRS ALAN LARSON SAYS A RE-APPRAISAL IS UNDER WAY WITHIN THE 
U-S GOVERNMENT ABOUT WHEN AND HOW TO APPLY ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.

SPEAKING IN BANGKOK, MR. LARSON SAID SANCTIONS REMAIN AN 
ESSENTIAL TOOL OF A GOVERNMENT.  BUT, HE SAID THEY MAY PERHAPS BE
USED TOO BROADLY AND WITH LITTLE EFFECT, PARTICULARLY IF THEY ARE
APPLIED ONLY BY ONE COUNTRY.

                        // LARSON ACT //

         THERE IS AT THE SAME TIME A SENSE THAT AT TIMES 
         SANCTIONS HAVE BEEN USED WITHOUT APPROPRIATE ANALYSIS, 
         THAT WHEN THEY ARE UNILATERAL RATHER THAN MULTILATERAL 
         THAT THEY CAN SOMETIMES BE COSTLY FOR OUR OWN ECONOMY 
         WITHOUT BEING EFFECTIVE IN ACCOMPLISHING THEIR 
         OBJECTIVE, AND THAT SOMETIMES THERE IS NOT A CLEAR 
         ENOUGH LINK BETWEEN THE SANCTION AND THE BEHAVIOR THAT 
         WE ARE TRYING TO CHANGE.

                          // END ACT //

MANY COMPANIES HAVE COMPLAINED THEY LOSE BUSINESS IN A COUNTRY 
UNDER SANCTIONS TO FOREIGN COMPANIES NOT CONSTRAINED BY 
SANCTIONS.

BUT MR. LARSON SAID BURMA IS A CLEAR CASE WHERE SANCTIONS ARE 
BEING USED TO THE DESIRED EFFECT.

                        // LARSON ACT //

         I THINK THAT A POLICY OF PRINCIPLE, LIKE OUR POLICY ON 
         BURMA, SOMETIMES IS A POLICY THAT TAKES TIME TO BEAR 
         FRUIT, BUT THAT IS NOT A REASON NOT TO PURSUE THAT 
         POLICY.

                          // END ACT //

ASKED WHY THE SAME STANDARDS FOR SANCTIONS ARE NOT APPLIED TO 
CHINA -- ALSO A COUNTRY CRITICIZED FOR ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD --
MR. LARSON SAID THE UNITED STATES IS NOT TAKING THE SAME APPROACH
WITH EVERY NATION.

                        // LARSON ACT //

         THE SHORT ANSWER IS THAT THE WE HAVE THE SAME GOAL 
         EVERYWHERE, IN SOME PLACES WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT 
         TACTICS.

                          // END ACT //

BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS RECENTLY STEPPED UP THE PRESSURE 
ON THE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT, WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED ACTIVISTS HAVING 
BEEN DETAINED.   (SIGNED)

NEB/GPT/TMD/RAE

28-Sep-98 9:28 AM EDT (1328 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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