Vitamin D deficiency linked to strokes, heart disease

Oily fish such as salmon are rich in Vitamin D

WASHINGTON - Insufficient intake of vitamin D, long known to play a key role in bone health, may significantly increase a person's risk of stroke, heart disease and even death, a US study said Monday.

Examining 27,686 Utah patients aged 50 or older with no history of cardiovascular disease, the study found those with very low vitamin D levels were 77 percent more likely to die early than those with normal levels.

They were also found to be 45 percent more likely to develop coronary artery disease and 78 percent were more likely to have a stroke, said the research by the Heart Institute at the Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City.

Those with very low levels of vitamin D were twice as likely to develop heart failure, said the study which was due to be presented later Monday at a conference organized by the American Heart Association in Orlando, Florida.

"If increasing levels of vitamin D can decrease some risk associated with these cardiovascular diseases, it could have a significant public health impact," said study co-author Heidi May, noting that vitamin D deficiency is easily treatable.

"When you consider that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in America, you understand how this research can help improve the length and quality of people's lives."

Studies have shown that Vitamin D also helps regulated key body functions such as blood pressure, inflammation and glucose control -- all related to heart disease -- and that deficiency of the vitamin is associated with musculoskeletal disorders.

Brent Muhlestein, another co-author of the study and the director of cardiovascular research at Intermountain, stressed that because the study was only observational, definitive links between vitamin D deficiency and heart disease could not be established.

He called for randomized treatment trials of patients with insufficient levels of the vitamin.

Two thirds of the Utah population does not get enough vitamin D, according to the study.

The researchers chose Utah -- home to the Mormon church -- in part because the population consumes low levels of tobacco and alcohol, thus allowing them to focus the study on vitamin D's effects on the cardiovascular system, explained Muhlestein.

The patients were divided into three groups based on their vitamin D levels -- normal (over 30 nanograms per milliliter), low (15-30 ng/ml) or very low (less than 15 ng/ml) -- and were followed for a year to determine whether they developed some form of heart disease.
Source : AFP/ar,Channel News Asia
Posted: 17 November 2009 1148 hrs

Remarks by Secretary Clinton at APEC Singapore Conference

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Suntec Conference Center
Singapore
November 11, 2009

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, good afternoon. Thank you very much for coming here this afternoon. Before I get started on my comments concerning the important meetings being held here at the APEC ministerial, I want to take a moment to recognize the fact that today is Veteran’s Day in the United States, and I want to acknowledge the veterans and our men and women in uniform and their families, many of whom are deployed in very difficult places around the world. I cannot emphasize enough our appreciation for their dedication and sacrifice.

Here in Singapore, we’ve had a productive day of discussion, covering the full range of regional and global issues confronting our nations. I have stressed the Obama Administration’s commitment to substantive cooperation. That is a commitment that I have felt very strongly about and made clear on my first trip as Secretary of State to Asia earlier this year. And when President Obama arrives here later this week, he will underscore our view that APEC is an essential forum for engagement and for common action.

I very much appreciate the hard work that Singapore has put in to making this meeting a success, and I thanked the two co-chairs of the ministerial, Minister Yoh, and Minister Lim, for their leadership. During this morning’s APEC foreign ministers breakfast, we covered major regional security issues. North Korea’s nuclear program is of foremost concern, and the United States is committed to making progress on this issue.

Our Special Representative for North Korea Policy, Ambassador Stephen Bosworth, will visit Pyongyang in the near future. The decision to send him was reached after extensive consultation with our partners in the Six-Party process. They share our view that Ambassador Bosworth can use this opportunity to press the basic principles of the September 2005 joint statement, including full, peaceful, verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and work toward the resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

We have made the purpose and parameters of this visit clear to the North Koreans. This is not a negotiation; it is an effort to pave the way toward North Korea’s return to the Six-Party process. Let me emphasize that our expectations of Pyongyang have not changed and will not change, nor has our commitment to the Six-Party process. We will use diplomacy and we will work closely with our partners to find a peaceful path to our shared objective on the Korean Peninsula.

We also discussed the United States approach to Burma. We have begun engaging the Burmese authorities in high-level dialogue to advance our goals of democratic reforms and human rights. Burma’s neighbors and members of ASEAN have an especially important role to play in encouraging the Burmese Government to move forward on reform, to start a meaningful internal dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, political parties, and ethnic minorities; and to hold credible, fair elections in 2010. I reiterated that U.S. sanctions will remain in place until we see meaningful progress in key areas.

In the ministerial meetings and over lunch through the rest of the day, we discussed a wide range of economic and foreign policy issues, especially expanding trade and ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth. I talked about American efforts to advance development and spread opportunity through increased funding and new initiatives.

And I want to say a few words about the pressing global challenge that will be a focus of attention in the coming weeks as we move toward the meeting in Copenhagen. We’ve had fruitful discussions today on climate change. The United States has taken dramatic steps in the past year to change the way we use energy at home, and we have taken our seat at the table in international climate negotiations. We believe all nations have a responsibility to address this urgent global challenge, and we are prepared to assume our share of responsibility.

Going forward, we are committed to reaching the goal of a global, legally binding climate agreement. And we will continue working vigorously with the international community toward that end. If we all exert maximum effort and embrace the right blend of pragmatism and principle, I believe we can secure a strong outcome at Copenhagen, and that would be a stepping stone toward full legal agreement. We cannot let the pursuit of perfection stand in the way of progress, but there are clear metrics by which we will judge the result at Copenhagen.

First, any agreement must involve immediate global action in which all nations do their fair share. We cannot afford further delay. Second, any agreement should cover all of the major issues, including adaptation, financing, technology cooperation, dissemination of technology, forest preservation, and others. It should include a commitment to strong mitigation actions like national reduction targets for developed countries and actions by major developing countries that will reduce their emissions significantly compared to business as usual.

Third, any agreement must include a commitment to a system that will ensure transparency and accountability with regard to the implementation of domestic actions. Fourth, any agreement must endorse funding facilities to assist developing countries. We are prepared to support a global climate fund that will support adaptation and mitigation efforts and a matching entity to help developing countries match needs with available resources. Funding through the new global climate fund and a technology mechanism will help developing countries identify what they need, where to get it, and how to finance, operate, and maintain it.

These are the yardsticks we will use to measure the outcome. But under any circumstance, Copenhagen is not the end of the process. It is part of our larger collective commitment to hold ourselves and others accountable, to speed the transition to a low-carbon global economy, and to leave a cleaner, greener planet for our children and grandchildren. So as we emerge from Copenhagen, we have to continue on this course with urgency and resolve.

Again, I thank our hosts here in Singapore for their excellent hospitality and planning of these meetings, and I would be happy to take some of your questions.

MODERATOR: We have time for a few questions. Are there questions? Dave Gollust from Voice of America.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary --

SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, here comes a microphone, Dave.

QUESTION: Oh, I’m sorry. Okay. Do you have any indication from Kurt Campbell’s initial soundings with the Burmese that they really will be amenable to changing the political setup that they have for next year? And would the return of Aung San Suu Kyi herself to political life in Burma be a condition for a more normal United States relationship with Burma?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Dave, as you know, we had two very high American diplomats, Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell and Deputy Assistant Secretary Scot Marciel, go to Burma last week and spend a considerable amount of time meeting with not only government officials, but also in a private meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, members of political opposition and ethnic groups. It was a very thorough and constructive set of visits, and the United States is committed to a process to try to encourage and support Burma’s path to democracy.There is a lot of work to do. We have no illusions that any of this will be easy or quick. But we have consulted broadly with our allies and partners in this region, particularly within ASEAN, and we have a lot of solidarity as we move forward with what is a more calibrated approach. We’re seeking to see a process inside Burma that would inspire and permit dialogue among all of the stakeholders so that there could be a growing consensus within Burma itself about the way forward. This is a very challenging situation, as many of the countries represented here at this meeting can attest, but the United States is committed to moving forward and staying in close consultation with the parties inside Burma as well as other countries that share our goal for a more peaceful, stable, democratic Burma. We think this has to be resolved within the Burmese people themselves, so we are not setting or dictating any conditions. We want to help facilitate the space and opportunity for the Burmese people to try to work out the challenges they face in having free and credible elections and setting forth a plan for a more prosperous and peaceful future.

MODERATOR: Next question, Sondang Sirait from SCTV Indonesia.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, we know that you held a meeting with the Indonesian foreign minister this morning. If you could tell us about what you talked about in the meeting? And also about the upcoming meeting between President Obama and President SBY this weekend?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, we had an excellent meeting with the foreign minister today. We covered a broad range of issues, some affecting our bilateral relationship, some affecting regional and other global issues. And I think it would be fair to say that it was such a comprehensive discussion that we ran out of time before we each had to get back to our respective responsibilities. But I am very impressed by the foreign minister. His grasp of the issues that – not only his country, but to – all of us now face. His principled and pragmatic approach toward working through those issues was extremely impressive, and I look forward to working with him.We will be establishing our strategic dialogue between our two countries, and we also anticipate seeing Indonesia play a larger and larger role in the region and on the global stage, as it is doing, for example, in the G-20. In particular, the experience that Indonesia has over the last 10 years of transitioning to a vibrant democracy, we believe, is very relevant in Asia, and in particular, in Burma. And we have learned a lot from our conversations with our Indonesian counterparts.We really congratulated the minister, and of course, President SBY for a very impressive win and an electoral victory. There will be a great deal for our presidents to discuss when they see each other here over the weekend. I know that President Obama has a very special place in his heart for Indonesia and is looking forward to visiting soon. There is just a very positive relationship between our two countries, and we want to broaden and deepen that and take it to a new level.MODERATOR: Next question, Lachlan Carmichael from AFP.QUESTION: Madame Secretary, three questions on North Korea: Do you support, does the United States support the South Korean version of events that the North Korean boat crossed in – crossed the border? And with whom did you discuss this today? And finally, do you have any second thoughts about sending Ambassador Bosworth to North Korea in light of these events? I think the goal was to send him there by the end of the year.SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Lachlan, as you know, there have been flare-ups of the sort we have seen over the last day between North and South Korea over a number of years. There is a set of issues around territorial waters that often serve as a backdrop to this kind of confrontation. I have no reason to question the accounts that we are receiving. We are obviously hoping that the situation does not escalate, and we’re encouraged by the calm reaction that has been present up until now.I’ve spoken, obviously, with my team back in Washington and with Kurt Campbell and the others who have responsibility for this region while we’ve been here. But this does not in any way affect our decision to send Ambassador Bosworth. We think that is an important step that stands on its own. It is connected to our efforts, along with our Six-Party partners, to move toward resumption of the Six-Party process. We think that is critically important. So we are certainly counseling calm and caution when it comes to any kind of dispute, especially one that can cause repercussions and damage that could be quite difficult to contend with. But at the same time, we’re moving ahead with our planned visit for Ambassador Bosworth.

MODERATOR: The last question will go to Channel News Asia, Augustine Anthuvan.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, I’d just like to revisit the question my colleague asked earlier about Myanmar. It’s significant for ASEAN, and of course, there is a substantial Burmese community here in Singapore. Secretary Campbell, when he spoke before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, he emphasized, underscored to senior Chinese Government officials the need for Beijing to play a positive role in promoting reform in Burma. I’d like to hear your thoughts, ma’am, on expanding on what exactly you would like to see from China. And a related question, of course, is that you said it’s very much left to the people of Myanmar to see how things unfold in 2010 for the elections. But what sort of role can ASEAN play in terms of on-the-ground, independent observers during the elections? Thank you very much, ma’am.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, and I think those are important questions because we need a broad response by the nations in the region. Certainly, China has the opportunity to play a very positive role, as does Thailand, India, and other ASEAN countries. We would like to see countries individually and through ASEAN reach out to the Burmese leadership, persuade them that it is time to start planning for free, fair and credible elections in 2010 – 2010 is nearly here – that it would be useful to have validation of those elections. And again, countries in the region and certainly, institutionally, ASEAN can offer support to ensure that the elections are viewed as credible.But I think it’s also important to recognize that left alone, the internal problems within Burma are not confined within Burma’s borders. We’ve seen refugee flows out of Burma, people taking to boats, ending up in Malaysia, ending up in Indonesia, ending up in Australia, crossing the border into Thailand. That instability is not good for anyone. Any country that does business in Burma wants to be sure that their investments and their business are safe. And the best way to ensure that is to move toward democracy and the kind of stability that democracy creates, the kind of investment climate that will attract even more businesses.So we look to all the countries in the region to play a role, and we particularly anticipate ASEAN playing a significant role. I mean, if we’re able to encourage the Burmese leadership to meet in dialogue with representatives of various aspects of Burmese society, we hope that that can be encouraged by other nations and by ASEAN, maybe facilitated by ASEAN, because planning for these elections must be a priority, and how it is monitored is something to be discussed and analyzed. But what’s important is getting some confidence that these will be free, fair, and credible elections. Otherwise, the Burmese leadership and the results of the election will not have international legitimacy. And since the Burmese leadership has said they want to have such elections, we hope that they will work with us to try to make sure that those elections gain credibility and that their results are respected globally.

Thank you very much.

Remarks by President Barack Obama at Suntory Hall

Suntory Hall, Tokyo, Japan(November 14, 2009)
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you so much. Arigatou. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Good morning. It is a great honor to be in Tokyo -- the first stop on my first visit to Asia as President of the United States. (Applause.) Thank you. It is good to be among so many of you -- Japanese and I see a few Americans here -- (applause) -- who work every day to strengthen the bonds between our two countries, including my longtime friend and our new ambassador to Japan, John Roos. (Applause.) It is wonderful to be back in Japan. Some of you may be aware that when I was a young boy, my mother brought me to Kamakura, where I looked up at that centuries-old symbol of peace and tranquility -- the great bronze Amida Buddha. And as a child, I was more focused on the matcha ice cream. (Laughter.) And I want to thank Prime Minister Hatoyama for sharing some of those memories with more ice cream last night at dinner. (Laughter and applause.) Thank you very much. But I have never forgotten the warmth and the hospitality that the Japanese people showed a young American far from home.
And I feel that same spirit on this visit: In the gracious welcome of Prime Minister Hatoyama. In the extraordinary honor of the meeting with Their Imperial Majesties, the Emperor and Empress, on the 20th anniversary of his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne. In the hospitality shown by the Japanese people. And of course, I could not come here without sending my greetings and gratitude to the citizens of Obama, Japan. (Applause.)
Now, I am beginning my journey here for a simple reason. Since taking office, I have worked to renew American leadership and pursue a new era of engagement with the world based on mutual interests and mutual respect. And our efforts in the Asia Pacific will be rooted, in no small measure, through an enduring and revitalized alliance between the United States and Japan.
From my very first days in office, we have worked to strengthen the ties that bind our nations. The first foreign leader that I welcomed to the White House was the Prime Minister of Japan, and for the first time in nearly 50 years, the first foreign trip by an American Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was to Asia, starting in Japan. (Applause.)
In two months, our alliance will mark its 50th anniversary -- a day when President Dwight Eisenhower stood next to Japan's Prime Minister and said that our two nations were creating "an indestructible partnership" based on "equality and mutual understanding."
In the half-century since, that alliance has endured as a foundation for our security and prosperity. It has helped us become the world's two largest economies, with Japan emerging as America's second-largest trading partner outside of North America. It has evolved as Japan has played a larger role on the world stage, and made important contributions to stability around the world -- from reconstruction in Iraq, to combating piracy off the Horn of Africa, to assistance for the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan -- most recently through its remarkable leadership in providing additional commitments to international development efforts there.
Above all, our alliance has endured because it reflects our common values -- a belief in the democratic right of free people to choose their own leaders and realize their own dreams; a belief that made possible the election of both Prime Minister Hatoyama and myself on the promise of change. And together, we are committed to providing a new generation of leadership for our people and our alliance.
That is why, at this critical moment in history, the two of us have not only reaffirmed our alliance -- we've agreed to deepen it. We've agreed to move expeditiously through a joint working group to implement the agreement that our two governments reached on restructuring U.S. forces in Okinawa. And as our alliance evolves and adapts for the future, we will always strive to uphold the spirit that President Eisenhower described long ago -- a partnership of equality and mutual respect. (Applause.)
But while our commitment to this region begins in Japan, it doesn't end here. The United States of America may have started as a series of ports and cities along the Atlantic Ocean, but for generations we have also been a nation of the Pacific. Asia and the United States are not separated by this great ocean; we are bound by it. We are bound by our past -- by the Asian immigrants who helped build America, and the generations of Americans in uniform who served and sacrificed to keep this region secure and free. We are bound by our shared prosperity -- by the trade and commerce upon which millions of jobs and families depend. And we are bound by our people -- by the Asian Americans who enrich every segment of American life, and all the people whose lives, like our countries, are interwoven.
My own life is a part of that story. I am an American President who was born in Hawaii and lived in Indonesia as a boy. My sister Maya was born in Jakarta, and later married a Chinese-Canadian. My mother spent nearly a decade working in the villages of Southeast Asia, helping women buy a sewing machine or an education that might give them a foothold in the world economy. So the Pacific Rim has helped shape my view of the world.
And since that time, perhaps no region has changed as swiftly or dramatically. Controlled economies have given way to open markets. Dictatorships have become democracies. Living standards have risen while poverty has plummeted. And through all these changes, the fortunes of America and the Asia Pacific have become more closely linked than ever before.
So I want everyone to know, and I want everybody in America to know, that we have a stake in the future of this region, because what happens here has a direct effect on our lives at home. This is where we engage in much of our commerce and buy many of our goods. And this is where we can export more of our own products and create jobs back home in the process. This is a place where the risk of a nuclear arms race threatens the security of the wider world, and where extremists who defile a great religion plan attacks on both our continents. And there can be no solution to our energy security and our climate challenge without the rising powers and developing nations of the Asia Pacific.
To meet these common challenges, the United States looks to strengthen old alliances and build new partnerships with the nations of this region. To do this, we look to America's treaty alliances with Japan, South Korea, Australia, Thailand and the Philippines -- alliances that are not historical documents from a bygone era, but abiding commitments to each other that are fundamental to our shared security.
These alliances continue to provide the bedrock of security and stability that has allowed the nations and peoples of this region to pursue opportunity and prosperity that was unimaginable at the time of my first childhood visit to Japan. And even as American troops are engaged in two wars around the world, our commitment to Japan's security and to Asia's security is unshakeable -- (applause) -- and it can be seen in our deployments throughout the region -- above all, through our young men and women in uniform, of whom I am so proud.
Now, we look to emerging nations that are poised as well to play a larger role -- both in the Asia Pacific region and the wider world; places like Indonesia and Malaysia that have adopted democracy, developed their economies, and tapped the great potential of their own people.
We look to rising powers with the view that in the 21st century, the national security and economic growth of one country need not come at the expense of another. I know there are many who question how the United States perceives China's emergence. But as I have said, in an interconnected world, power does not need to be a zero-sum game, and nations need not fear the success of another. Cultivating spheres of cooperation -- not competing spheres of influence -- will lead to progress in the Asia Pacific. (Applause.)
Now, as with any nation, America will approach China with a focus on our interests. And it's precisely for this reason that it is important to pursue pragmatic cooperation with China on issues of mutual concern, because no one nation can meet the challenges of the 21st century alone, and the United States and China will both be better off when we are able to meet them together. That's why we welcome China's effort to play a greater role on the world stage -- a role in which their growing economy is joined by growing responsibility. China's partnership has proved critical in our effort to jumpstart economic recovery. China has promoted security and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan. And it is now committed to the global nonproliferation regime, and supporting the pursuit of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
So the United States does not seek to contain China, nor does a deeper relationship with China mean a weakening of our bilateral alliances. On the contrary, the rise of a strong, prosperous China can be a source of strength for the community of nations.
And so in Beijing and beyond, we will work to deepen our strategic and economic dialogue, and improve communication between our militaries. Of course, we will not agree on every issue, and the United States will never waver in speaking up for the fundamental values that we hold dear -- and that includes respect for the religion and cultures of all people -- because support for human rights and human dignity is ingrained in America. But we can move these discussions forward in a spirit of partnership rather than rancor.
In addition to our bilateral relations, we also believe that the growth of multilateral organizations can advance the security and prosperity of this region. I know that the United States has been disengaged from many of these organizations in recent years. So let me be clear: Those days have passed. As a Asia Pacific nation, the United States expects to be involved in the discussions that shape the future of this region, and to participate fully in appropriate organizations as they are established and evolve. (Applause.)
That is the work that I will begin on this trip. The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will continue to promote regional commerce and prosperity, and I look forward to participating in that forum this evening. ASEAN will remain a catalyst for Southeast Asian dialogue, cooperation and security, and I look forward to becoming the first American President to meet with all 10 ASEAN leaders. (Applause.) And the United States looks forward to engaging with the East Asia Summit more formally as it plays a role in addressing the challenges of our time.
We seek this deeper and broader engagement because we know our collective future depends on it. And I'd like to speak for a bit about what that future might look like, and what we must do to advance our prosperity, our security, and our universal values and aspirations.
First, we must strengthen our economic recovery, and pursue growth that is both balanced and sustained.
The quick, unprecedented and coordinated action taken by Asia Pacific nations and others has averted economic catastrophe, and helped us to begin to emerge from the worst recession in generations. And we have taken the historic step of reforming our international economic architecture, so that the G20 is now the premier forum for international economic cooperation.
Now, this shift to the G20, along with the greater voice that is being given to Asian nations in international financial institutions, clearly demonstrates the broader, more inclusive engagement that America seeks in the 21st century. And as a key member of the G8, Japan has and will continue to play a leading and vital role in shaping the future of the international financial architecture. (Applause.)
Now that we are on the brink of economic recovery, we must also ensure that it can be sustained. We simply cannot return to the same cycles of boom and bust that led to a global recession. We can't follow the same policies that led to such imbalanced growth. One of the important lessons this recession has taught us is the limits of depending primarily on American consumers and Asian exports to drive growth -- because when Americans found themselves too heavily in debt or lost their jobs and were out of work, demand for Asian goods plummeted. When demand fell sharply, exports from this region fell sharply. Since the economies of this region are so dependent on exports, they stopped growing. And the global recession only deepened.
So we have now reached one of those rare inflection points in history where we have the opportunity to take a different path. And that must begin with the G20 pledge that we made in Pittsburgh to pursue a new strategy for balanced economic growth.
I'll be saying more about this in Singapore, but in the United States, this new strategy will mean that we save more and spend less, reform our financial systems, reduce our long-term deficit and borrowing. It will also mean a greater emphasis on exports that we can build, produce, and sell all over the world. For America, this is a jobs strategy. Right now, our exports support millions upon millions of well-paying American jobs. Increasing those exports by just a small amount has the potential to create millions more. These are jobs making everything from wind turbines and solar panels to the technology that you use every day.
For Asia, striking this better balance will provide an opportunity for workers and consumers to enjoy higher standards of living that their remarkable increases in productivity have made possible. It will allow for greater investments in housing and infrastructure and the service sector. And a more balanced global economy will lead to prosperity that reaches further and deeper.
For decades, the United States has had one of the most open markets in the world, and that openness has helped to fuel the success of so many countries in this region and others over the last century. In this new era, opening other markets around the globe will be critical not just to America's prosperity, but to the world's, as well.
An integral part of this new strategy is working towards an ambitious and balanced Doha agreement -- not any agreement, but an agreement that will open up markets and increase exports around the world. We are ready to work with our Asian partners to see if we can achieve that objective in a timely fashion -- and we invite our regional trading partners to join us at the table.
We also believe that continued integration of the economies of this region will benefit workers, consumers, and businesses in all our nations. Together, with our South Korean friends, we will work through the issues necessary to move forward on a trade agreement with them. The United States will also be engaging with the Trans-Pacific Partnership countries with the goal of shaping a regional agreement that will have broad-based membership and the high standards worthy of a 21st century trade agreement.
Working in partnership, this is how we can sustain this recovery and advance our common prosperity. But it's not enough to pursue growth that is balanced. We also need growth that is sustainable -- for our planet and the future generations that will live here.
Already, the United States has taken more steps to combat climate change in 10 months than we have in our recent history -- (applause) -- by embracing the latest science, by investing in new energy, by raising efficiency standards, forging new partnerships, and engaging in international climate negotiations. In short, America knows there is more work to do -- but we are meeting our responsibility, and will continue to do so.
And that includes striving for success in Copenhagen. I have no illusions that this will be easy, but the contours of a way forward are clear. All nations must accept their responsibility. Those nations, like my own, who have been the leading emitters must have clear reduction targets. Developing countries will need to take substantial actions to curb their emissions, aided by finance and technology. And there must be transparency and accountability for domestic actions.
Each of us must do what we can to grow our economies without endangering our planet -- and we must do it together. But the good news is that if we put the right rules and incentives in place, it will unleash the creative power of our best scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. It will lead to new jobs, new businesses, and entire new industries. And Japan has been at the forefront on this issue. We are looking forward to being a important partner with you as we achieve this critical global goal. (Applause.)
Yet, even as we confront this challenge of the 21st century, we must also redouble our efforts to meet a threat to our security that is the legacy of the 20th century -- the danger posed by nuclear weapons.
In Prague, I affirmed America's commitment to rid the world of nuclear weapons, and laid out a comprehensive agenda to pursue this goal. (Applause.) I am pleased that Japan has joined us in this effort, for no two nations on Earth know better what these weapons can do, and together we must seek a future without them. This is fundamental to our common security, and this is a great test of our common humanity. Our very future hangs in the balance.
Now, let me be clear: So long as these weapons exist, the United States will maintain a strong and effective nuclear deterrent that guarantees the defense of our allies -- including South Korea and Japan. (Applause.)
But we must recognize that an escalating nuclear arms race in this region would undermine decades of growth and prosperity. So we are called upon to uphold the basic bargain of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty -- that all nations have a right to peaceful nuclear energy; that nations with nuclear weapons have a responsibility to move toward nuclear disarmament; and those without nuclear weapons have a responsibility to forsake them.
Indeed, Japan serves as an example to the world that true peace and power can be achieved by taking this path. (Applause.) For decades, Japan has enjoyed the benefits of peaceful nuclear energy, while rejecting nuclear arms development -- and by any measure, this has increased Japan's security and enhanced its position.
To meet our responsibilities and to move forward with the agenda I laid out in Prague, we have passed, with the help of Japan, a unanimous U.N. Security Council resolution embracing this international effort. We are pursuing a new agreement with Russia to reduce our nuclear stockpiles. We will work to ratify and bring into force the test ban treaty. (Applause.) And next year at our Nuclear Security Summit, we will advance our goal of securing all the world's vulnerable nuclear materials within four years.
Now, as I've said before, strengthening the global nonproliferation regime is not about singling out any individual nations. It's about all nations living up to their responsibilities. That includes the Islamic Republic of Iran. And it includes North Korea.
For decades, North Korea has chosen a path of confrontation and provocation, including the pursuit of nuclear weapons. It should be clear where this path leads. We have tightened sanctions on Pyongyang. We have passed the most sweeping U.N. Security Council resolution to date to restrict their weapons of mass destruction activities. We will not be cowed by threats, and we will continue to send a clear message through our actions, and not just our words: North Korea's refusal to meet its international obligations will lead only to less security -- not more.
Yet there is another path that can be taken. Working in tandem with our partners -- supported by direct diplomacy -- the United States is prepared to offer North Korea a different future. Instead of an isolation that has compounded the horrific repression of its own people, North Korea could have a future of international integration. Instead of gripping poverty, it could have a future of economic opportunity -- where trade and investment and tourism can offer the North Korean people the chance at a better life. And instead of increasing insecurity, it could have a future of greater security and respect. This respect cannot be earned through belligerence. It must be reached by a nation that takes its place in the international community by fully living up to its international obligations.
So the path for North Korea to realize this future is clear: a return to the six-party talks; upholding previous commitments, including a return to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; and the full and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. And full normalization with its neighbors can also only come if Japanese families receive a full accounting of those who have been abducted. (Applause.) These are all steps that can be taken by the North Korean government if they are interested in improving the lives of their people and joining the community of nations.
And as we are vigilant in confronting this challenge, we will stand with all of our Asian partners in combating the transnational threats of the 21st century: by rooting out the extremists who slaughter the innocent, and stopping the piracy that threatens our sea lanes; by enhancing our efforts to stop infectious disease, and working to end extreme poverty in our time; and by shutting down the traffickers who exploit women, children and migrants, and putting a stop to this scourge of modern-day slavery once and for all. Indeed, the final area in which we must work together is in upholding the fundamental rights and dignity of all human beings.
The Asia Pacific region is rich with many cultures. It is marked by extraordinary traditions and strong national histories. And time and again, we have seen the remarkable talent and drive of the peoples of this region in advancing human progress. Yet this much is also clear -- indigenous cultures and economic growth have not been stymied by respect for human rights; they have been strengthened by it. Supporting human rights provides lasting security that cannot be purchased in any other way -- that is the story that can be seen in Japan's democracy, just as it can be seen in America's democracy.
The longing for liberty and dignity is a part of the story of all peoples. For there are certain aspirations that human beings hold in common: the freedom to speak your mind, and choose your leaders; the ability to access information, and worship how you please; confidence in the rule of law, and the equal administration of justice. These are not impediments to stability, they are the cornerstones of stability. And we will always stand on the side of those who seek these rights.
That truth, for example, guides our new approach to Burma. Despite years of good intentions, neither sanctions by the United States nor engagement by others succeeded in improving the lives of the Burmese people. So we are now communicating directly with the leadership to make it clear that existing sanctions will remain until there are concrete steps toward democratic reform. We support a Burma that is unified, peaceful, prosperous, and democratic. And as Burma moves in that direction, a better relationship with the United States is possible.
There are clear steps that must be taken -- the unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi; an end to conflicts with minority groups; and a genuine dialogue between the government, the democratic opposition and minority groups on a shared vision for the future. That is how a government in Burma will be able to respond to the needs of its people. That is the path that will bring Burma true security and prosperity. (Applause.)
These are steps that the United States will take to improve prosperity, security, and human dignity in the Asia Pacific. We will do so through our close friendship with Japan -- which will always be a centerpiece of our efforts in the region. We will do so as a partner -- through the broader engagement that I've discussed today. We will do so as a Pacific nation -- with a President who was shaped in part by this piece of the globe. And we will do so with the same sense of purpose that has guided our ties with the Japanese people for nearly 50 years.
The story of how these ties were forged dates back to the middle of the last century, sometime after the guns of war had quieted in the Pacific. It was then that America's commitment to the security and stability of Japan, along with the Japanese peoples' spirit of resilience and industriousness, led to what's been called "the Japanese miracle" -- a period of economic growth that was faster and more robust than anything the world had seen for some time.
In the coming years and decades, this miracle would spread throughout the region, and in a single generation the lives and fortunes of millions were forever changed for the better. It is progress that has been supported by a hard-earned peace, and strengthened by new bridges of mutual understanding that have bound together the nations of this vast and sprawling space.
But we know that there's still work to be done -- so that new breakthroughs in science and technology can lead to jobs on both sides of the Pacific, and security from a warming planet; so that we can reverse the spread of deadly weapons, and -- on a divided peninsula -- the people of South can be freed from fear, and those in the North can live free from want; so that a young girl can be valued not for her body but for her mind; and so that young people everywhere can go as far as their talent and their drive and their choices will take them.
None of this will come easy, nor without setback or struggle. But at this moment of renewal -- in this land of miracles -- history tells us it is possible. This is the --America's agenda. This is the purpose of our partnership with Japan, and with the nations and peoples of this region. And there must be no doubt: As America's first Pacific President, I promise you that this Pacific nation will strengthen and sustain our leadership in this vitally important part of the world. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

その真理は、例えば、私達のビルマへの新しいアプローチの指針になっています。長年にわたる善意の努力にもかかわらず、米国による制裁も他国による関与もビルマ国民の生活を改善することができませんでした。このため、私達は今、指導者層と直接話し合い、民主的改革への具体的措置が講じられるまでは現行の制裁は継続することを明瞭に伝えています。私達は、統一され、平和的で繁栄し民主的であるビルマを支持します。そして、ビルマがその方向に移行するならば、米国とのより良い関係が可能です。講じられなければならない明確な措置があります。アウン・サン・スー・チーを含む全ての政治囚の無条件釈放、少数民族グループとの紛争の停止、未来に向けての共有されたビジョンに関する政府、民主的反対勢力、少数民族グループの間の本物の対話などです。それが、ビルマ政府が自国民の欲求に答えることができる方法です。それがビルマに本当の安全と繁栄をもたらす道です。

Myanmar diplomat: Junta may free Suu Kyi for poll

SINGAPORE – Myanmar's military-ruled government may release pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi soon so she can play a role in next year's general elections, according to a senior Myanmar diplomat.
The remarks by Min Lwin _ rare for a Myanmar government official on an overseas visit _ were in line with vague comments in recent years by the junta that it intends to free Suu Kyi soon. But officials have given no time frame and have made no real moves to release her despite hinting they would.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years, and not been able to speak publicly since she was last taken into detention in May 2003. A court recently sentenced the 64-year-old to an additional 18 months of house arrest for briefly sheltering an uninvited American in a trial that drew global condemnation.
That would prevent her from participating in next year's elections _ the first in two decades _ unless she is granted a special release.
"There is a plan to release her soon ... so she can organize her party," Min Lwin, a director-general in the Foreign Ministry, told The Associated Press at the Manila airport before boarding a flight to Singapore en route to Yangon. He refused to elaborate, and it was not clear if he meant that Suu Kyi would be allowed to campaign.
There is also no indication that the government would allow Suu Kyi to run in the election. Myanmar's constitution includes provisions that bar Suu Kyi from holding office and ensure the military a controlling stake in government.
Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, has not yet decided whether to take part in the polls, which it says would be held under a constitution established last year by undemocratic means.
Min Lwin said the proposal to free Suu Kyi was not influenced by the recent change in U.S. policy under President Barack Obama, who is seeking to engage Myanmar, also known as Burma. The Bush administration had shunned any direct talks with the reclusive Southeast Asian nation.
Although Myanmar welcomes the new American policy of "pragmatic engagement," Min Lwin said he did not expect any major changes in the near future, mainly because U.S. sanctions are still in force.
Min Lwin was in Manila to attend a two-day meeting of fellow diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United States.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Scot Marciel held separate talks last week with Myanmar's ruling generals and Suu Kyi in the highest-ranking visit by American officials to Myanmar in 14 years.
Obama will meet ASEAN leaders on Nov. 15, on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Singapore, bringing him in rare contact with Myanmar's prime minister, Gen. Thein Sein.
The Myanmar junta chief, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, typically shuns official meetings outside Myanmar.
Officials have not said if Obama will meet privately with Thein Sein. The last U.S. president to meet a Myanmar head of state was Lyndon B. Johnson, who held talks with then-Prime Minister Ne Win in September 1966 during a state visit to Washington, according to Richard Mei, the U.S. Embassy spokesman in Myanmar.
Despite their new approach to Myanmar, U.S. officials have said that tough sanctions against the junta will remain in place until talks with its generals result in long-demanded democratic reforms.
Seven ASEAN member states _ Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam _ belong to APEC, which includes the U.S. and other Western and South American nations. The three ASEAN members not in APEC are Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Source : news.yahoo.com.sg

By JIM GOMEZ,Associated Press Writer - Tuesday, November 10

Obama to Meet With Prime Minister of Myanmar

MANILA — President Obama plans to meet with the prime minister of Myanmar along with other Southeast Asian leaders next Sunday, in a high-level affirmation of the new policy by Washington of engaging the military-ruled country despite its dismal human rights record.
The meeting between Mr. Obama and leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations will take place on the sidelines of the annual summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Singapore, the U.S. ambassador for Asean affairs, Scot Marciel, said Saturday.
Prime Minister Thein Sein of Myanmar will attend the meeting, which marks the 32nd anniversary of Washington’s relations with Asean, said a senior Myanmar diplomat, Min Lwin. The junta chief, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, typically shuns official meetings outside the country.
The talks would be the highest-level contact between Myanmar and the United States in decades.
Officials have not said whether Mr. Obama will meet privately with Thein Sein. The last U.S. president to meet with a Myanmar head of state was Lyndon B. Johnson. He talked with Ne Win, who was then the prime minister, in September 1966 in Washington, according to Richard Mei, the U.S. Embassy spokesman in Myanmar. The country was then called Burma.
Under Mr. Obama, Washington has reversed the policy of the administration of President George W. Bush of shunning Myanmar in favor of direct talks with the country, which has been under military rule since 1962.
Myanmar welcomed the shift in U.S. policy, Min Lwin said, describing the change as “positive.”

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 8, 2009

Obama to meet Myanmar, other ASEAN leaders

By JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press Writer Jim Gomez, Associated Press Writer – Sat Nov 7, 5:14 am ET
MANILA, Philippines – President Barack Obama will meet leaders of Southeast Asian nations, including Myanmar, in a high-level affirmation of Washington's new policy of engaging the military-ruled country despite its dismal human rights record.
The Nov. 15 meeting between Obama and leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations will take place on the sidelines of an annual summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Singapore, U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Scot Marciel said Saturday.
Myanmar's prime minister, Thein Sein, will attend the meeting, which marks the 32nd anniversary of Washington's relations with ASEAN, senior Myanmar diplomat Min Lwin told The Associated Press in Manila.
The junta chief, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, typically shuns official meetings outside Myanmar.
The talks are to be the highest-level contact between Myanmar and the U.S. in decades.
Officials have not said if Obama will meet privately with Thein Sein. The last U.S. president to meet a Myanmar head of state was Lyndon B. Johnson, who held talks with then Prime Minister Ne Win in September 1966 during a state visit to Washington, according to Richard Mei, the U.S. Embassy spokesman in Myanmar.
Under Obama, Washington has reversed the Bush administration's policy of shunning Myanmar in favor of direct talks with the Southeast Asian country that has been ruled by the military since 1962.
Myanmar welcomes the shift in U.S. policy, Min Lwin said, describing the change as "positive."
Marciel and Min Lwin were in Manila along with other senior ASEAN diplomats to finalize the agenda for Obama's meeting with ASEAN leaders. The talks will focus on trade, energy, health, climate change, food security, disaster response and security issues, Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Enrique Manalo said.
"What we're trying to do is to step up and increase our engagement with ASEAN," Marciel said.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo has said ASEAN welcomes the Obama administration's new policy of engagement with Myanmar, adding that Southeast Asian governments have continued talking with the junta while constantly prodding it to move toward democracy.
"All of us talk with Myanmar," he said. "There is no harm in talking."
ASEAN has faced a barrage of criticism in past years over its failure to coax democratic reforms from the junta or to win freedom for detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and some 2,000 other political prisoners.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years, mostly under house arrest.
Despite their new approach to Myanmar, also known as Burma, U.S. officials have said that tough sanctions against the junta will remain until talks with its generals result in long-demanded democratic reforms.
Seven ASEAN member states — Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam — belong to APEC, which includes the U.S. and other Western nations. The three ASEAN members not in APEC are Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
Source : news.yahoo.com
Associated Press writer Jocelyn Gecker in Bangkok contributed to this report.

Japan urges Myanmar to release Suu Kyi before poll

By Yoko Nishikawa Yoko Nishikawa – Sat Nov 7, 10:08 am ET
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan urged Myanmar Saturday to release detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi before next year's election, adding it was ready to provide more aid if democratization in the country advanced.
The comments came a few days after a U.S. delegation made a landmark visit to Myanmar as part of a new policy of engagement by the Obama administration.
"It is extremely important that Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners are all released before the general election to be held in 2010," Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told Myanmar's visiting prime minister, according to a Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman.
Hatoyama also urged General Thein Sein to ensure all stakeholders could take part in the election.
Japan has distanced itself from the policy of Western powers, which have imposed tough sanctions on Myanmar, and from that of China, which has pumped billions of dollars into the country.
It has preferred engagement and dialogue to push for democratization of the authoritarian military-run state, and welcomed Washington's recent move, saying it was getting closer to Tokyo's approach.
The talk between Hatoyama and General Thein Sein took place on the sidelines of the Tokyo summit among Japan and five Mekong region countries -- Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
It was the first time since 2003 a Myanmar leader had visited Japan.
Hatoyama acknowledged signs of improvement in the democratization process in the country formerly known as Burma, and welcomed improving ties between Washington and Myanmar.
"Based on recent positive moves, Japan will gradually expand its assistance to Myanmar in areas of humanitarian assistance, including those through NGOs, and human development assistance," Hatoyama was quoted as telling General Thein Sein.
"If the general election in 2010 is conducted in a manner we expect, Japan will be in a position to strengthen its assistance to Myanmar," he added.
In the fiscal year that ended in March 2008, Japan provided 1.18 billion yen ($13.13 million) in grant aid and 1.64 billion yen in technical assistance to Myanmar.
(Editing by Andrew Roche)

Source : news.yahoo.com

Japan to increase aid to Myanmar

TOKYO (AFP) – Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Saturday said Japan plans to increase aid to Myanmar gradually while hailing Washington's latest efforts to engage the military-ruled country.
"Japan plans to expand our humanitarian aid and assistance for human resources development gradually," a Japanese foreign ministry official quoted Hatoyama as saying at a meeting with his Myanmar counterpart Thein Sein.
Hatoyama did not mention a specific sum, according to the official who was in the bilateral meeting.
He said the decision on greater aid stemmed from the junta's recent release of political prisoners, signs of a resumed dialogue with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and improved ties with the United States, said the official.
Hatoyama also told Thein Sein that Japan would increase assistance further if Myanmar's planned general elections next year are held in a fair way, the official said, adding the premier did not elaborate on what this aid could be.
Hatoyama met Thein Sein, Myanmar's first premier to visit Japan since 2003, at Japan's first summit with five countries along the Mekong River, which also include Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
Japan has given about two billion yen (22 million dollars) worth of aid to Myanmar annually over the past few years.
It is mostly disaster relief and humanitarian assistance as Tokyo has shunned loans and grants to the nation criticised for human rights abuses.
Thein Sein thanked Hatoyama for Tokyo's assistance and called for more investment from and trade with Japan, according to the Japanese official.
He also said the nation was preparing law for general elections so that any party can participate, the official said.
Speaking at a press conference after the Mekong-Japan summit, Hatoyama hailed the US government's dialogue with Myanmar.
"America's greater interest in Myanmar... will benefit the Mekong region as a whole," Hatoyama said. "America is gaining greater interest in the region and we welcome it."
The administration of US President Barack Obama has recently changed its policy on Myanmar, saying it would push for engagement with the military regime because sanctions on their own had failed to bear fruit.
US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and his deputy Scot Marciel held rare meetings with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and premier Thein Sein on a two-day visit ending Wednesday.
Japan has maintained trade and dialogue with Myanmar, warning a hard line on Myanmar would push the junta closer to neighbouring China, its main political supporter and commercial partner.
Source : news.yahoo.com

新生児の泣き声にも“訛り”

新生児は子宮の中で言語を覚え始め、生まれたときには既にその言語特有のアクセント、いわば“訛り”のようなものを身に付けているという研究が発表された。　胎児は耳で聞くことで言語に慣れていくという見解は特に目新しいものではない。誕生直後の新生児が複数の異なる言語を耳にすると、ほとんどの場合、母親の胎内で聞こえていた言語に最も近い言語を好むような態度を示すことが複数の研究で既にわかっている。　ただし、言語を認識する能力と発話する能力とはまったく別のものである。　ドイツ、ビュルツブルク大学発話前発育・発育障害研究センターのカトリーン・ヴェルムケ氏が率いる研究チームは、フランス人とドイツ人各30人、計60人の健康な新生児の泣き声の“メロディ”を調査した。　ただしヴェルムケ氏によると、このメロディ、つまりイントネーションは、厳密に言えばアクセントとは異なるという。アクセントとは、単語の発音の仕方に関連するものだ。　一般的に、フランス語を母国語とする人は語尾を上げ、ドイツ語を母国語とする人は逆に語尾を下げるということが知られている。また、メロディ（話し言葉のイントネーション）が言語の習得において決定的に重要な役割を果たすということもわかっている。「ここから、新生児の泣き声の中から何らかの特徴があるメロディを探すというアイデアを思いついた」とヴェルムケ氏は明かす。　今回の研究に参加した新生児の泣き声のメロディは、胎内で聞いていた言語と同じイントネーションをたどっていた。例えば、フランス人の新生児は泣き声の最後の音が高くなった。「胎児や乳幼児がメロディを感じ取り再現することから、人間の言語習得の長いプロセスが始まることは明らかだ」とヴェルムケ氏は語る。　また今回の発見で、言語の発達プロセス以上のことが明らかになる可能性もある。「乳幼児の泣き声などの発声をさらに分析すれば、人間の祖先がどのようにして言語を生み出したのかという謎の解明にも役立つかもしれない」。

Source : news.yahoo.co.jp
この研究結果は2009年11月5日発行の「Current Biology」誌に掲載されている。
Matt Kaplan for National Geographic News

Japanese Society of Child Science

新生児のお世話のポイント（０～１ヵ月）

新生児から３歳児まで －ことばの芽生え

Suu Kyi in landmark talks

YANGON - A United States State Department official met Ms Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday in a visit that marked the highest-ranking talks between an American and Myanmar's detained opposition leader in 14 years.Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell, accompanied by his deputy Scot Marciel, also met Myanmar's prime minister as Washington seeks a new era of engagement with the military regime.Mr Campbell, the top US diplomat for East Asia, greeted Ms Suu Kyi with a handshake after she was driven to his lakeside hotel in Yangon where they met privately for two hours.Mr Campbell and his deputy, Mr Marciel, are the highest-level Americans to visit Myanmar since 1995. The topic of talks with Ms Suu Kyi was not immediately known. But the meeting was her first trip in years outside the confines of her home and a nearby government guesthouse, where she has met United Nations and military government officials in the past. The 64-year-old Ms Suu Kyi has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years, mostly under house arrest and for shorter periods at Myanmar's notorious Insein Prison.Ms Suu Kyi was upbeat as she emerged from the hotel and joked with photographers who asked her to smile."Do I look pretty when I smile," she asked. "Hello to you all," she said, before getting into a car that whisked her back to her tightly-guarded home.Earlier yesterday, Mr Campbell and Mr Marciel held talks with Prime Minister Thein Sein in the administrative capital Naypyidaw.The two-day trip is a follow-up to discussions in New York in September between US and Myanmar officials, the highest-level US contact with the regime in nearly a decade.The US visit is the second step in "the beginning of a dialogue with Burma", State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters in Washington on Tuesday.

Source : http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC091105-0000092/?Suu-Kyi-in-landmark-talks-

U.S. delegation holds talks with Myanmar's Suu Kyi

YANGON (Reuters) – A top U.S. official held rare talks with Myanmar's detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Wednesday as part of Washington's highest-level visit to the isolated army-ruled country in 14 years.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner met United States Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell for more than two hours at a hotel near Yangon's Inya lake, close to her home where she has been detained for much of the past two decades.

Later, at Yangon airport before the U.S. delegation left the former Burma, Campbell said the United States wanted to improve relations with the government but the authorities needed to take concrete steps toward that end, too.

Describing the visit as an exploratory mission designed to explain the results of a U.S. policy review toward Myanmar, he said the United States advocated "strong support for human rights, the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners and the pursuit of democratic reform."

"At every meeting, the United States underscored its strong commitment to see Burma as a place that respects the human rights of its people, promotes democracy, and abides by U.N. resolutions with regards to proliferation," he added.

Earlier, Suu Kyi and Campbell had posed for photographs together but did not answer reporters' questions.

Campbell, Washington's top official for East and Southeast Asia, met earlier on Wednesday with Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein.

On Tuesday, Campbell held talks with top junta officials in the remote new capital Naypyidaw, but he did not meet junta supremo Than Shwe, the aging general who has tightly controlled the former Burma for the past 17 years.

In the meetings, Campbell told government leaders "the U.S. is prepared to take steps to improve the bilateral relationship, but it will be a step-by-step process, and must be based on reciprocal and concrete efforts by the Burmese government," U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said.

The U.S. officials "reaffirmed our support for dialogue between the government and the opposition," Kelly told reporters in Washington. "The goal of such dialogue would be a national reconciliation and a fully inclusive political process in Burma."

Both sides seem ready to edge toward some sort of rapprochement.

Myanmar is keen to see Western sanctions lifted and has allowed Suu Kyi to raise the issue with diplomats in meetings that the junta normally forbids.

The United States has refused to lift its trade embargo on the resource-rich country and says dialogue would supplement sanctions rather than replace them.

Kelly said on Wednesday Washington would need to see specific steps by Myanmar before considering lifting sanctions.

But the U.S. government announced in September it would pursue deeper engagement to try to spur democratic reforms in Myanmar and is pressing for free, fair and inclusive elections next year.

"Toward that end," Campbell said, "we urge the Burmese government to allow Aung San Suu Kyi more frequent interactions with stakeholders, especially the central executive committee of her own party."

State TV reported that Campbell had asked the authorities to let Suu Kyi meet committee members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) before he met her.

That was agreed, MRTV said, but Suu Kyi pulled out of the meeting because one member, NLD vice chairman Tin Oo, 82, was excluded. He has been under house arrest since May 2003.

The NLD was the clear winner the last time polls were held in 1990. The military refused to recognize the NLD victory. The party has yet to say whether it will contest next year's vote.

Source : http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091104/pl_nm/us_myanmar_usa_6
By Aung Hla Tun Aung Hla Tun – Wed Nov 4, 4:51 pm ET
(Additional reporting by David Alexander in Washington; Writing by Martin Petty and Alan Raybould; Editing by Alex Richardson and Paul Simao)

US envoy meets Suu Kyi

Visit raises level of diplomatic engagement with Myanmar junta

Mr Campbell leaving the Inya Lake Hotel with Ms Suu Kyi yesterday after a two-hour meeting. He was the most senior US official to meet her in 14 years. -- PHOTO: AFP

BANGKOK - A TWO-HOUR meeting in Yangon yesterday between a top American official and Myanmar's detained pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi has significantly raised the level of diplomatic engagement between the United States and Myanmar.

US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell became the highest-ranking American official to visit the Nobel Peace laureate in 14 years.

Earlier, he met Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein in the administrative capital of Nyapyidaw before flying to Yangon.

State television, which on Tuesday ignored the American delegation's visit, broadcast footage of both meetings.

Mr Campbell greeted Ms Suu Kyi, 64, with a handshake at the Inya Lake Hotel near her home where she has been detained on and off for the past 20 years.

Dressed in a traditional Myanmar jacket, Ms Suu Kyi was upbeat as she emerged from the hotel after the meeting.
Source : www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/SE%2BAsia/Story/STIStory_450480.html
By Nirmal Ghosh, Thailand Correspondent
nirmal@sph.com.sg

US envoy in landmark talks with Suu Kyi

YANGON: A top US official held talks with Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday as Myanmar's ruling junta gave the democracy icon a rare break from house arrest during Washington's highest-level visit in 14 years.

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell also met Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein as part of efforts by the Obama administration to re-engage with the hardline military regime.

Nobel laureate Suu Kyi met Campbell for two hours at a luxury hotel in Yangon - the first time she had appeared in front of the media other than at her home or in prison since her current period of detention began in 2003.

Campbell said at Yangon airport that in the "exploratory mission" he had underscored "strong support for human rights, the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners, and the pursuit of democratic reform."

"We stated clearly that the United States is prepared to take steps to improve the relationship but that process must be based on reciprocal and concrete efforts by the Burmese government," Campbell said in a statement.

The US diplomat said he and his deputy, Scot Marciel, had also urged the regime to let Suu Kyi meet more often with members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) Party ahead of elections that are due in 2010.

The duo were not allowed to meet the reclusive head of Myanmar's junta, General Than Shwe. They instead held talks with Premier Thein Sein in the remote administrative capital Naypyidaw.

"They reaffirmed our support for dialogue between the government and the opposition," US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters in Washington.

Kelly said Washington had no plans to mediate between the government and the democratic opposition leaders.

"As I say, this is a step-by-step process... This visit was primarily meant to underscore our call for the government to have a dialogue... with the opposition. But we want to see the Burmese government start taking some concrete steps towards such a dialogue."

During the talks with Suu Kyi "we affirmed our commitment to a dialogue among the government, the opposition, and the ethnic groups," Campbell said.

Dressed in a pink and maroon traditional outfit, the 64-year-old Suu Kyi did not answer questions after the meeting with the US duo but smiled to reporters and joked: "Am I beautiful when I smile?"

Suu Kyi has spent most of the last two decades in detention and the junta, which has ruled since 1962, gave her an extra 18 months of house arrest in August, effectively ruling her out of next year's widely criticised elections.

The opposition leader was sentenced after being found guilty of harbouring an American man who swam to her lakeside house earlier in the year. Journalists saw her in prison at the trial but were not allowed to take pictures.

Campbell and Marciel also met senior members of the NLD, which described the talks as "positive".

"We discussed the transition to democracy and focused on the dialogue between Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior General Than Shwe. From their side they didn't say much. They just listened," NLD spokesman Khin Maung Swe told AFP.

Campbell was the highest ranking US official to travel to Myanmar - formerly known as Burma - since Madeleine Albright went as US ambassador to the United Nations in 1995 during Bill Clinton's presidency.

The trip was a follow-up to discussions in New York in September between US and Myanmar officials, the highest-level US contact with the regime in nearly a decade.

President Barack Obama's administration in September announced a dramatic change in policy because isolating Myanmar had failed, but said it would not ease sanctions without progress on democracy and human rights.

September's talks dealt with US calls for free and fair elections and the release of Suu Kyi, but also with concerns about Myanmar's possible military links with nuclear-armed North Korea.

The first major sign of a thaw came in August when Than Shwe held an unprecedented meeting with visiting US Senator Jim Webb, which yielded the release of John Yettaw, the American detained for swimming to Suu Kyi's house. - AFP/yb/de

Source : Channel News Asia

Posted: 04 November 2009 1132 hrs

US envoys set for rare Myanmar visit

YANGON: Two senior US envoys are due to arrive in Myanmar Tuesday for talks with the ruling military government and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, on the most high profile American visit to the country in 14 years.

The visit by Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and his deputy Scot Marciel is the latest move by President Barack Obama's administration to engage the military government.

The US pair are unlikely to see the reclusive head of the military government Than Shwe, but will instead meet Prime Minister Thein Sein in the remote jungle capital of Naypyidaw on Tuesday, Myanmar officials said.

They will then travel to Yangon on Wednesday to meet Nobel Peace laureate Suu Kyi, whose plight sparked international outrage earlier this year when her house arrest was extended by 18 months, they said.

Campbell is the highest ranking US official to travel to Myanmar since Madeleine Albright went as US ambassador to the United Nations in 1995 under the administration of President Bill Clinton.

"We see this visit as the start of direct engagement between the US and Myanmar government," Nyan Win, a spokesman for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy Party (NLD), told AFP.

"But we do not expect the exact and big change from this meeting. This visit is just a first stage."

He said the NLD had been told that the US envoys would meet the party's central executive committee at their headquarters on Wednesday and would meet Suu Kyi the same day.

The Obama administration recently shifted US policy because its longstanding approach of isolating Myanmar had failed to bear fruit, but has said it would not ease sanctions without progress on democracy and human rights.

The military government extended Suu Kyi's house arrest after she was convicted in August over an incident in which a US man swam to her lakeside house but critics say the charges were trumped up to keep her off the scene for elections in 2010.

The visit by Campbell and Marciel is a follow-up to discussions in New York in September between US and Myanmar officials, which marked the highest-level American contact with the military government in nearly a decade.

In August, Than Shwe held an unprecedented meeting with visiting US senator Jim Webb, a leading advocate of engaging the military government. The visit also secured the release of John Yettaw - the American swimmer in the Suu Kyi case.

Thein Sein told Asian leaders at a summit in Thailand last month that the military government sees a role for Suu Kyi in fostering reconciliation ahead of the promised elections but it was not clear what form this would take.

The charge d’affaires at the US embassy in Yangon, Larry Dinger, said in an interview with the semi-official Myanmar Times newspaper published this week that Washington wanted to make progress on "important issues" but would maintain sanctions "until concrete progress is made".

A foreign diplomat in Yangon said the visit was "important but at the same time without immediate consequence".

"It is necessary to be cautious. Everyone knows there is a risk of relations going cold again in two months," the diplomat said.

The NLD won Myanmar's last elections in 1990 by a landslide, which the military government refused to acknowledge, and has since faced a campaign of oppression.

The 64-year-old Suu Kyi has spent 14 of the past 20 years in detention. But last month the generals granted her two rare meetings with a minister and allowed her to see Western diplomats.

The talks followed a letter she wrote to Than Shwe in late September, offering her co-operation in getting Western sanctions lifted after years of favouring harsh measures against the ruling generals.
Source : ChannelNewsAsia

Posted: 03 November 2009 1058 hrs
AFP/yb

US envoys in Myanmar 'unlikely to meet junta chief'

YANGON (AFP) – Two senior US envoys travelling to military-ruled Myanmar this week will meet detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi but are unlikely to see the reclusive junta chief, an official said Sunday.
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and his deputy Scot Marciel are planning the visit in the latest move by President Barack Obama's administration to engage the regime.
They will go to the remote administrative capital of Naypyidaw on Tuesday and meet Prime Minister Thein Sein, a Myanmar official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
This is the highest level government member the pair will meet, the official said, suggesting that they will not be granted talks with regime leader Than Shwe.
They will travel to Yangon Wednesday to meet Suu Kyi and members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) before departing the country, the official added.
The visit is a follow-up to discussions in New York in September between US and Myanmar officials, which marked the highest-level American contact with the regime in nearly a decade.
The Obama administration shifted its policy because its longstanding approach of isolating Myanmar had failed to bear fruit, but said it would not ease sanctions without progress on democracy and human rights.
In August, Than Shwe held an unprecedented meeting with a visiting US senator, Jim Webb, a leading advocate of engaging the junta.
But if, as the official's comments suggest, Than Shwe does not want to meet the US delegation this week, he may leave the capital during their visit, said activist and scholar Win Min in northern Thailand.
"He doesn't want to make significant concessions even though he wants to get the US to lift sanctions," Win Min said, noting that the leader avoided a request to meet UN special envoy Razali Ismail in 2003 by visiting the west coast and leaving the then premier to see the envoy.
A State Department official, Stephen Blake, quietly visited Myanmar in March to hold talks with both junta members and the opposition. It was the first trip by a US envoy to the country in more than seven years.
Campbell told a congressional panel last month that the dialogue would "supplement rather than replace" the sanctions regime.
The chief US diplomat for Asia acknowledged that the talks, which aim to press for democratic reform in Myanmar ahead of elections promised by the ruling generals for 2010, would be neither simple nor straightforward.
Thein Sein told Asian leaders at a summit in Thailand last weekend that the junta sees a role for Suu Kyi in fostering reconciliation ahead of the elections, but it was not clear what form this would take.
The 64-year-old Nobel peace laureate has spent 14 of the past 20 years in detention, and in August was placed under a further 18 months' house arrest, effectively barring her from taking part in the polls.
But last month the generals granted her two rare meetings with Labour Minister Aung Kyi, the official liaison between her and the junta, and a meeting with Western diplomats.
The talks followed a letter she wrote to Than Shwe in late September, offering her co-operation in getting Western sanctions lifted, after years of favoring harsh measures against the generals.
Suu Kyi's NLD party won the last elections in 1990 by a landslide, which the junta refused to acknowledge.

Source : http://news.yahoo.com

US envoy to meet Aung San Suu Kyi on Myanmar trip

US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell is scheduled to hold talks with Aung San Suu Kyi during a visit to Myanmar this week, but is unlikely to meet the junta chief, sources said Monday. Campbell and US Deputy Assistant Secretary Scot Marciel are scheduled to arrive in Myanmar's former capital of Yangon Tuesday morning and fly directly on to the military's new headquarters of Naypyitaw, government sources confirmed.
In Naypyitaw, 350 kilometres north of Yangon, Campbell is to meet with Information Minister Kyaw Hsan, Chief Justice Aung Toe and representatives of the Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA), the political arm of the junta. There was no meeting scheduled with military supremo Than Shwe, said sources who requested anonymity.
Campbell and Marciel are scheduled to return to Yangon Wednesday, where, they would meet Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi at 2 pm at her home-cum-prison near Inya Lake, military sources confirmed.
They also plan talks with leaders of the Suu Kyi' opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), the Committee Representing People's Parliament and the pro-junta National Unity Party (NUP).
Marciel is to travel on to Thailand to participate in a public forum at Chulalongkorn University Thursday on US foreign policy towards Myanmar, and also brief Thai government officials.
Suu Kyi has welcomed Campbell's visit, seen as part of US President Barack Obama's diplomatic effort to engage with the pariah regime to encourage democratic reforms.
Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party won a 1990 general election by a landslide, but has been denied power by the military for the past 19 years - of which she has spent 13 years under house arrest.
Another election is planned in 2010, but the international community is not expected to accept its outcome unless Suu Kyi and some 2,100 other political prisoners are freed beforehand and the NLD is allowed to contest the polls.

Source : www.earthtimes.org