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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)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.