Philippines Urge Lifting of Sanctions on Burma

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, January 18, 2012

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Philippines Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario (far left) and his Burmese counterpart, Wunna Maung Lwin (second right), link hands with other Asean foreign ministers for a photo-op in Cambodia on Jan. 11. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

MANILA—The Philippines says international sanctions against Burma should be lifted amid the political reforms taking place there.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement late Tuesday that the Philippines welcomes the recent amnesty and release of more than 600 political prisoners. It said they showed Burma's political resolve and commitment "to nurture an environment for an enduring national reconciliation and democracy."

The foreign affairs department says such reforms "should find reciprocal gesture from the international community" in the lifting of sanctions.

The Philippines was one of the most vocal critics of the junta that once ruled Burma, which is also known as Myanmar.

Western countries have praised the reforms but are keeping sanctions in place for now.