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Corrected Version of Press Release



Subject: Corrected Version of Press Release 18/98

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Please read
1) "ensuing " instead of "ensuring":  third para first line.
2) "are aware of neither the role" instead of "are neither aware of the role":
second last para fourth line.

The final version reads as follows. Regrets.


                           EMBASSY OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR   
                                           WASHINGTON,  DC

PRESS   RELEASE   18/98       	-           			29 December 1998
Sanctions: A Blunt and Ineffective Foreign Policy Weapon
	
The past year was a tumultuous one for the world. From the Asian financial
crisis to the death and destruction visited upon nations due to natural
disasters as well as wars of attrition, it is clear that these are not normal
times. The situation is compounded by the fact that the foreign policy of big
and powerful countries are held hostage to internal politics.

In recent years as single-issue constituencies, notably those claiming to
promote human rights, environmentalism, ethnic or religious causes have gained
influence in local politics, sanctions have become a policy tool of choice.
Some countries employ them to suit their needs. In the US even state and local
governments have began to dabble in the politics of boycotts. Several local
entities have been persuaded to believe that adopting " selective purchasing
laws " that prohibit public agencies from purchasing goods and services from
companies doing business with Myanmar would promote human rights.

The ensuing debate on sanctions however has made it clear that state and local
enactment in the US restricting business ties with Myanmar is pure madness. It
has been pointed out that it is not only unconstitutional but also immoral.
Not surprisingly, in Boston last month, chief US District Court Judge Joseph
Tauro struck down the Massachusetts law barring trade with Myanmar because it
was not in keeping with the constitution.

Article VI of the constitution provides that the laws and treaties of the US
are " the supreme law of the land " and prevail over, or preempt, state and
local enactment. In passing judgment  the Judge noted " the Massachusetts law
was designed with the purpose of changing Burma's domestic policy. This is an
unconstitutional infringement on the foreign affairs powers of the federal
government." The National Foreign Trade Council and several US businesses who
are better informed and have more expertise in foreign affairs have advocated

a more pragmatic approach. They urge constructive engagement in which
increased economic cooperation between the two nations would bring mutual
benefits on a broad range of issues.

The growing use of economic sanctions to promote foreign policy objectives is
deplorable not only because it is unconstitutional but because it does more
harm than good. Sanctions have always fallen short of their stated purposes.
Unilateral sanctions are clearly ineffective. Despite sanctions, countries
like Iran, Cuba, Libya, Iraq and Myanmar remain strong and resilient. The
reason is not hard to fathom. Today we live in a global village and in a
global economy unilateral sanctions are blunt weapons at best. Any slack
created by the withdrawal of US companies is taken up by competitors.
Unilateral sanctions invariably impose greater costs for US companies than on
the target countries. Where it hurts is that sanctions, more often than not,
produce undesirable results. For example those severely affected by the US
sanctions in Iraq are the infants and the elderly, not least the sick and the
infirm among them.

In the case of Myanmar sanctions are ill-advised. All that they have
accomplished is to take away jobs from workers employed in the garment and
tourist-related industries. The people of  Myanmar have lived under self-
imposed isolation for 26 years and are conditioned to severe shortages of
consumer goods and other luxury items. They understand the hardship boycotts
entail and fully appreciate what the government has done in the past decade to
strengthen the fabric of the nation, to open up the economy and to ensure an
orderly transformation to a democracy. Now that peace reigns in the country
they are looking forward to a more prosperous future in an open-market
economy. They have begun turning faltering steps into firm strides and resent
those who put obstacles in their way. In the circumstance, the people are wary
of the antics of Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters in the West who call for
sanctions and attempt to rock the boat. As a result she is anathema to
Myanmar. So much so that her own supporters are quitting the party in droves
and the remaining members no longer dare to strut about in their uniforms as
they once did.

Now that sanctions against Myanmar have proven to be ineffective the idea of
offering carrots in the form of a UN-World Bank assistance is being floated.
According to the plan US $ 1 billion would be forthcoming if the government
agreed to a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi. It is obvious that those making
the proposal are aware of neither the role of the international organizations
in promoting sustainable development nor the principles on which the Myanmar
government stands. Myanmar will neither succumb to the lure of carrots nor be
cowered by the threat of sticks. 

However, as a member of the UN since 1948 and the World Bank since the early
1950s, Myanmar has always appreciated the ideal of multilateralism and the
objectivity with which both organizations bring to their work. Myanmar hopes
that obstacles can be overcome and cooperation to improve the lives of the
peoples of Myanmar can be resumed. 


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