BBC News with Julie Candler
The United States has eased some restrictions on investment in Burma because of the political reform process there, but the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said American sanctions were only being suspended conditionally. The European Union has already
taken similar action on
its sanctions on Burma. Mrs Clinton, who was speaking after talks with the visiting Burmese Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin, also announced the appointment of the first US ambassador to Burma for 22 years. Here's our State Department correspondent Kim Ghattas.
The Obama administration has appointed Derek Mitchell, its Burma envoy, as an ambassador to the country. Mrs Clinton said restrictions will be eased on US investments in the
impoverished
, isolated country. She called on American companies to invest in all sectors of the Burmese economy but to do so responsibly. American sanctions on Burma will be suspended conditionally, not completely lifted. Mrs Clinton said the laws would stay on the books as an insurance policy. An arms
embargo
remains in place. Washington wants to make sure that steps towards democracy in Burma are
irreversible
.
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