Senate GOP leader to visit Myanmar MATTHEW PENNINGTON January 12, 2012 06:04 PM EST

WASHINGTON Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, a leading congressional voice on Myanmar, will make his first visit to the country next week, his office said Thursday. McConnell, R-Ky., will meet with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar g overnment officials to discuss political reform in the military-dominated countr y, bilateral relations and regional security issues. He will arrive in Myanmar Sunday and return to the United States Wednesday. Every year since 2003, McConnell has introduced legislation sanctioning Myanmar and would be a prominent voice should the U.S. contemplate easing those restrict ions. Myanmar has made tentative reforms after decades of harsh military rule. It held elections in November 2010 and freed Suu Kyi from years of house arrest but sti ll holds hundreds of political prisoners. The U.S. is also urging an end to fighting in Myanmar's border regions against t he country's ethnic minorities and wants the government to sever its military ti es with North Korea. McConnell is one of several U.S. lawmakers visiting the country also known as Bu rma this month, following the landmark trip by Hillary Rodham Clinton in Decembe r, the first by a U.S. secretary of state in more than 50 years. Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., is currently in Myanmar, the first member of the Ho use to visit since 1999. The Obama administration has sought to engage Myanmar after years of the U.S. is olating the military regime but is looking for signs of further reform before it moves toward normalizing ties. While lifting sanctions appears unlikely in the near term, Washington is conside ring appointing a full ambassador, which would require a Senate confirmation. Th e highest U.S. diplomat based in Myanmar is currently a charge d'affaires. The U.S. is watching closely to see if Myanmar stages free and fair by-elections that Suu Kyi and her party will contest April 1 and most importantly, release p olitical prisoners. Myanmar says it will release 651 prisoners starting Friday under a new president ial pardon but it is not yet clear whether that will include political detainees . Improved relations with the U.S. could enable Myanmar to reduce its reliance on key ally and northern neighbor China. Lifting sanctions would open the gates to more foreign aid and investment.