US to soften sanctions on Myanmar

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state,has said Washington would ease restrictions on investment to Myanmar and move quickly to name an ambassador after landmark elections.

Hoping to boost reformers in the country, Clinton said on Wednesday that the US would also make it easier for Myanmar officials to visit but would not yet ease the bulk of sanctions on the long-isolated state.

Clinton hailed the "leadership and courage" of President Thein Sein after the country held by-elections that will see opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi entering parliament for the first time.

"The United States will stand with the reformers and the democrats both inside the government and in the larger civil society as they work together for that more hopeful future that is the right of every single person," Clinton told reporters.

Al Jazeera's Rosalind Jordan, reporting from Washington, described Clinton's statement as a "confidence-building message".

"This is an opportunity not just for renewed diplomatic ties, but for US non-governmental organizations to carry out work in civil society building and to protect the environment. Also for [US] businesses to go in and help the people of Myanmar develop their agriculture and tourism sectors," Jordan said.

Caveats remain

Clinton announced "the beginning of the process" of a "targeted easing of our ban on the export of US financial services and investment".

She said that the step on investment was "part of a broader effort to help accelerate economic modernization and political reform".

But she warned: "Sanctions and prohibitions will stay in place on individuals and institutions that remain on the wrong side of these historic reform efforts."

Clinton, who previously announced that the US would restore full diplomatic relations with Myanmar for the first time in two decades, said the administration would complete formalities "in the coming days" and then formally nominate an ambassador to the Sena! te for c onfirmation.

But Clinton said that the United States would still press for greater progress on key concerns including a release of all remaining political prisoners and an end to any military cooperation with North Korea.

As Al Jazeera's Jordan pointed out,"Washington is sending a message of encouragement for the reform-minded, butit has been made clear thatthe US won't ignore human rights abuses."