Myanmar's PM visits Cambodia

Associated Press
Friday, November 30, 2007 (Cambodia)
Myanmar's Prime Minister visited Cambodia on Friday, a day after the
host country said it would not support sanctions against its neighbour
as punishment for the military junta's recent crackdown.

Hundreds of school children and civil servants were part of the
welcoming committee at Phnom Penh's airport, where Prime Minister Lt.
General Thein Sein was greeted by his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen.

Thein Sein's visit to Cambodia overlaps with a two-day trip by the
UN's special envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari.

Officials have said the timing of the two visits was coincidental.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said on Friday that his country
supports the ''steps taken by Myanmar in cooperation with the United
Nations to seek reconciliation and democracy in Myanmar.''

He told Gambari during a meeting on Thursday that Myanmar's ruling
junta should be given incentives instead of being slapped with
sanctions to find a democratic solution to its political crisis.

''We should not talk about sanctions, but we'd better talk about how
to take the momentum forward and prevent the situation from sliding
backward,'' Hor Namhong told reporters.

Gambari has been allowed to visit Myanmar twice since the military's
violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in September. He
said he had a frank discussion with the foreign minister, but did not
elaborate.

The UN envoy visited Vietnam earlier this week and is scheduled to
travel to Laos after leaving Cambodia.

Myanmar sparked global outrage in September when the country's ruling
junta crushed protests led by Buddhist monks, killing at least 15
people. Nearly 3,000 were arrested, though the military insists most
have been released.
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