US 'ready to improve ties' with Burma

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Updated November 5, 2009 22:03:04

The United States says it's ready to improve ties with Burma if the military junta there makes substantive progress on a return to democracy. The announcement came after talks yesterday between Burma's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Prime Minister Thein Sein, and the US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and his deputy Scot Marciel.

It's two months since President Barack Obama's government said it would move away from a sanctions-led policy and put more emphasis on dialogue. The two American diplomats are now in Bangkok, where Scot Marciel addressed reporters earlier today. He says Washington wants to see Ms Suu Kyi and other political prisoners set free, and the implementation of democratic reform ahead of elections that have been promised for next year.

Presenter: Corinne Podger
Speaker: Scot Marciel, deputy to the US Assistant Secretary of State

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