双语新闻：美国取消对缅甸总统吴登盛的签证限制 US Waives Visa Restrictions For Burma's Leader

30 August, 2012

美国总统奥巴马取消了对缅甸总统吴登盛的入境签证限制，以便他在下月纽约举行联合国大会期间访问美国。

奥巴马星期三下令取消签证禁令，允许吴登盛在联合国大会期间自由旅行。否则，按照美国对缅甸领导人的旅行限制，吴登盛只能在联合国总部周围很小区域内活动。

美国官员说，奥巴马这一决定显示美国愿意与缅甸政府进行更密切的接触。缅甸政府正在脱离数十年来的专制统治轨道。

美国国会2008年通过立法，禁止美国在缅甸投资，并禁止从缅甸进口某些商品，此外还对参与侵犯人权的缅甸军政官员的签证加以限制。

U.S. President Barack Obama has waived visa restrictions for Burma's president, Thein Sein, to allow him to visit the United States during next month's United Nations General Assembly in New York.

President Obama Wednesday ordered an exception in a visa ban to let Thein Sein travel freely during the U.N. General Assembly. Otherwise, Thein Sein would be confined to a narrow area around the U.N. headquarters due to a U.S. travel ban on Burmese leaders.

U.S. officials say Mr. Obama's decision signals U.S. interest in closer engagement with Burma's government, which is shifting away from decades of authoritarian rule.

U.S. legislation from 2008 bans U.S. investment in Burma and the import of certain goods from the country. It also restricts visas for government and military officials who have been involved in human rights abuses.