AP-Myanmar Seeks Western Cooperatio

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Subject: AP-Myanmar Seeks Western Cooperation

Tuesday August 10 10:34 AM ET

Myanmar Seeks Western Cooperation

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - A senior member of Myanmar's military government has
suggested his country would move toward democracy faster if Western nations
cooperated rather than maintaining a hostile policy of isolation,
state-controlled newspapers said Tuesday.

The remarks by Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, a top member of the ruling State Peace
and Development Council, came Monday in a speech at the opening ceremony of
a diplomacy course at the Foreign Ministry, the reports said.

``A careful and objective study will reveal that both sides have the same
aim - the emergence of a democratic country. The difference is only in the
tactics to reach this goal,'' Khin Nyunt was quoted as saying. ``If these
nations, which are trying to exert pressure and isolate Myanmar through
prejudice, adopt a positive attitude and assist Myanmar, we can achieve our
common goal more quickly.''

The United States and the European Union shun the military government
because of its human rights abuses and failure to turn over power to an
elected government. The opposition National League for Democracy won a
landslide victory in a 1990 general election, but the army never allowed
parliament to convene.

The military in Myanmar, also known as Burma, has never set a clear
timetable for restoring democracy.

The West's treatment of Myanmar as a pariah state has limited the flow of
aid and investment to the country, whose economy is already ailing.

``We believe that the Western nations lack understanding of the actual
situation of Myanmar and the challenges it faces,'' Khin Nyunt was quoted as
saying. ``They are launching their attacks based on their biased attitudes
and ill intentions.''