New US ambassador takes office in Myanmar

Newly-appointed US Ambassador Derek J Mitchell presented his credentials to Myanmar President U Thein Sein in Nay Pyi Taw Wednesday. This signified the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries at ambassadorial level after a civilian government was installed here March 30, 2011, Xinhua reported. Mitchell, who had served as US special representative and policy coordinator for Myanmar, is the first US ambassador to Myanmar in 22 years. Myanmar and the US established diplomatic relations in 1947. Since 1990, the US downgraded the ties from ambassadorial level to that of charge d'affaires. Relations between the two countries have improved following the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in December last year. Myanmar has proposed U Than Swe, current Myanmar ambassador to the UN, as ambassador to the US.