Washington (Antara Bali) - US President Barack Obama made phone calls to Burmese President Thein Sein and opposition MP and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday, emphasizing the protection of the minority Muslim Rohingya's rights, as well as a more open political process as the country prepares for parliamentary elections next year, the White House said in a statement.
Obama "stressed the importance of the government of Burma taking additional steps to address the tensions and the humanitarian situation in Rakhine State including through revisions to the Rakhine Action Plan and other measures to support the civil and political rights of the Rohingya population.
The President welcomed the commitment of Thein Sein and his government to the peace process and said every effort should be made conclude a national ceasefire in the short term."
The two leaders also discussed Obama's upcoming visit to Burma for the East Asia Summit and US-ASEAN Summit, and "the status of Burma's ongoing political and economic reforms," an issue he raised pointedly with Aung San Suu Kyi.
The President and Suu Kyi talked about "economic reforms and the need to ensure an inclusive and credible process for conducting the 2015 elections," and the ways in which the US "can support efforts to promote tolerance, respect for diversity, and a more inclusive political environment," the White House said.
Obama "expressed his appreciation for Aung San Suu Kyi's work to promote a more democratic Burma, and reiterated the United States' firm commitment to helping the people of Burma achieve a more free, open, and prosperous nation," the statement concluded. (MFD)
