Burma ‘Failing Demonstrably’ to Make Progress on Drugs: Obama

16 September 2013

The White House on Friday said Burma had “failed demonstrably” to make significant progress in its drug eradication efforts over the last year. Among 22 countries that the United States designates as “major drug transit and/or major illicit drug producing countries,” Burma was castigated along with Bolivia and Venezuela in an annual review of counternarcotics efforts globally. The report went on to say that “support for programs to aid Burma and Venezuela is vital to the national interests of the United States.” Burma is the world’s second-largest producer of opium, after only Afghanistan.