Aung San Suu Kyi engages in two hour meeting with US envoy

Myanmar News.Net
Wednesday 4th November, 2009

A top US official has spoken to Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi at a luxury hotel in Rangoon.

Myanmar's ruling junta gave permission to US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Kurt Campbell, to meet Ms Suu Kyi, who was released from house arrest for the occasion.

In Washington's highest-level visit for 14 years, the media was allowed to record the initial stages of the meeting, which lasted for two hours.

Campbell, later speaking at Rangoon Airport, said he had been on an exploratory mission to discuss democratic reform in the country, including the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

He said he had urged members of the Myanmar regime to let Suu Kyi meet more often with members of the opposition National League for Democracy Party, prior to elections that are due to take place in 2010.

While in the country Mr Campbell also met Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein but was unable to connect with hardline military leader, General Than Shwe.

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