Obama to meet leader of Burma (Myanmar)

Burmese President Thein Sein (right) meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in Yangon last year.

The White House announced today that President Obama will meet Monday with a foreign leader from a country with two names: Myanmar and Burma.

The headline of a White House statement said Obama will speak with President Thein Sein of Myanmar -- the preferred name of Thein Sein's authoritarian government -- though U.S. policy refers to the country by its older name, Burma.

The statement itself did note cite either national name, noting only that Obama and Thein Sein met in November in the country's capital, Rangoon.

"The United States has continued to advocate for continued progress on reform by President Thein Sein's government, in close cooperation with Aung San Suu Kyi, civil society leaders, and the international community," said the White House statement.

It added: "The President looks forward to discussing with President Thein Sein the many remaining challenges to efforts to develop democracy, address communal and ethnic tensions, and bring economic opportunity to the people of his country, and to exploring how the United States can help."

Caitlin Hayden, spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said that "the United States government over time has begun limited use of the name 'Myanmar' as a diplomatic courtesy" to a nation that is seeking better global relations.

In a statement, Hayden said:

"Burma has undertaken a number of positive reforms, including releasing over 850 political prisoners; easing media restriction; permitting freedom of speech, assembly, and movement.

"We have responded by expanding our engagement with the government, easing a number of sanctions, and as a courtesy in appropriate setting, more frequently using the name 'Myanmar.'

"While we are not changing our policy to officially adopt 'Myanmar,' we believe that showing respect for a government that is pursuing an ambitious reform a government that is pursuing an ambitious reform agenda is an important signal of support for its efforts and our desire to help the transformation succeed.

"Our policy remains that Burma is the name of the country."

Credit & Copy From; http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/05/15/obama-burma-myanmar-then-sein-aung-san-suu-kyi/2162851/