Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) released the following statement after President Obama nominated Derek Mitchell to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Burma and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the suspension of certain sanctions against the country:

“I welcome the administration’s decision to ease sanctions on financial services and investment in Burma and nominate Derek Mitchell to be the first U.S. ambassador to Burma in 22 years. 

“Burma has taken a number of important steps toward reform in recent months and it is appropriate for the United States to acknowledge those efforts by easing some sanctions and encouraging additional actions. 

“Yet we must be mindful that the reforms are not irreversible and Burma still needs to do more to address the legitimate concerns of the people of Burma and the international community before we ease more sanctions or lift them altogether.

“As such, I urge the administration to continue to press the government of Burma to release all political prisoners, cease violence against ethnic minorities, end military ties with North Korea and enact additional democratic, economic and constitutional reforms. 

“I will continue to listen carefully to the advice and counsel of Aung San Suu Kyi and the democratic opposition in Burma and my colleagues in Congress and the administration as we all work together to achieve our shared goal of a free and democratic Burma.”

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