By SPA,
Washington : The United States said Wednesday it is urging China, India, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand to use any influence they have with Myanmar to allow foreign relief teams into the cyclone-hit country.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Washington was contacting Asian countries to encourage tem to “use whatever leverage they may have with the Burmese government to allow assistance teams in.” U.S. officials call Myanmar by its previous name, Burma.
McCormack mentioned the six Asian countries but said it was not an “exclusive” list and that others also were being asked for their help in pressuring Myanmar’s military rulers to allow entry for foreign relief teams.
The United States has a disaster-assistance team ready in neighboring Thailand, but McCormack told reporters that Washington has not received visas yet from the Myanmar authorities.