New Zealand signals it does not believe in new Myanmar government -

Myanmar to be known as Burma for Government(of New Zealand)
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Thu, 2 Dec 2010
News: Politics | Burma | Murray McCully | Myanmar

The Government is to change its position on Myanmar and return to calling it Burma.

The Asian nation was known as Burma until 1989 when the military government officially changed it to Myanmar.

The Government has accepted a recommendation from Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully to use Burma, Radio New Zealand reported.

Mr McCully said the change signalled that New Zealand refused to recognise the legitimacy of the ruling military regime.

The Government's position allows for the use of Myanmar where the country is recognised as such, including at the United Nations.

Australia, France and the United Kingdom prefer to use Burma while the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Burma is a member, use Myanmar.

( Online edition of Otago Daily Times, NZ )