U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday (November" />
U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday (November"/>

Obama sees "new day for Myanmar," but says more work to be done

2014-11-13 19

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday (November 13) he is optimistic about political change in Myanmar but that more work was needed to push forward with reforms.

Myanmar emerged from international pariah status when a semi-civilian government took power four years ago and initiated a wave of liberal change after nearly half a century of military rule.

But the pace of change has stalled, and Obama said this week the country was "backsliding" on some reforms.

"I'm confident there will be a completely new day for Myanmar," Obama told reporters after meeting law makers in the country's capital, Naypyitaw. "The work is not done here."

Obama did not say whether he discussed constitutional reform with the members of parliament. Among the group was opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who is not eligible to become president under the existing constitution.

Obama will meet Suu Kyi again on Friday at