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INHOFE MEETS WITH MYANMAR PRESIDENT SEIN


 
Contacts: Jared Young 202-224-5762
Donelle Harder 202-224-1282

January 9, 2013


WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), during a Congressional Delegation tour of Asia, met with Myanmar President Sein.    

“I appreciate the reforms President Sein is making in his country,” said Inhofe.  “I commend him and the people of Myanmar for taking these important steps toward a democratic future, and I will look for ways the U.S. can assist with those reformsI told President Sein that I believe U.S. companies, especially those in the oil and gas sectors, can play a positive role in demonstrating high standards of responsible business conduct and encourage free market policies, while at the same time protect human rights in this rich land.”   

While serving as the Ranking Member on the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Inhofe has focused on bringing democracy to the country of Myanmar.  It has been historically a closed and totalitarian regime run by a military junta for the past several decades.  Recent bipartisan efforts in 2012, however, have led to renewed bilateral efforts to open their political system, and political and economic reforms are being implemented. 

 

During the course of developing this U.S. engagement strategy of Myanmar this past year there were rumors that the U.S. oil and gas industry were to be “carved-out” by the Obama Administration of those economic sanctions that the U.S. was intending to suspend against Myanmar.  Inhofe found this totally unacceptable as the U.S. oil and gas industry has a proud history of fostering open and transparent business environments internationally, supporting the rule of law and fighting corruption, upholding fair labor practices and setting up a level playing field for foreign investment.  Inhofe does not believe the U.S. should be picking winners and losers in U.S. private industry economic engagement abroad, but rather should be encouraging the business community as a whole to take on the risk of investing in human development in Myanmar. 

 

Working with Democratic Chairman Webb of the East Asian and Pacific Subcommittee, Inhofe defeated any effort to “carve-out” the U.S. oil and gas industry from being allowed to compete for business in Myanmar.   On November 18, 2012, the Obama Administration published regulations controlling U.S. investment in Myanmar that did not exclude the U.S. petroleum industry. 

 

Inhofe said that at the conclusion of his meeting, it was clear to him that Myanmar is open for business and democracy.  

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January 2013 Press Releases



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