Japan, U.S. agree on need for int'l pressure on Burma

June 30, 2006 (Mainichi Daily News) - Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Moscow Friday agreed that the international community should apply stronger pressure on Burma to prompt the country's democratization.

Rice told Aso that it is important to step up international pressure on the nation partly through the adoption of a U.N. Security Council resolution urging the immediate release of Burma's prodemocracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest.

Aso noted that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is trying to solve the situation.

But ASEAN's efforts have so far been unsuccessful, and it would be inevitable for Myanmar to face growing international pressure under such circumstances, he added. Myanmar is a member of 10-nation ASEAN.

Aso and Rice met in this Russian capital on the fringe of a meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of Eight major countries. (Jiji Press)