Obama refers to both 'Burma' and 'Myanmar'

Officially, President Obama visited "Burma" on Monday -- but at one point he also cited the name used by the nation's military junta, "Myanmar."

"We think that a process of democratic reform and economic reform here in Myanmar that has been begun by the president is one that can lead to incredible development opportunities here," Obama said after meeting with President Thein Sein.

Obama aides said the president used Myanmar as a "diplomatic courtesy" to Sein; in a meeting with dissident democratic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Obama again referred to Burma.

"We've said we recognize that different people call this country by different names, and we obviously accept that," said deputy National Security adviser Ben Rhodes. "We certainly accept that that's the view of President Thein Sein."

In his meeting with Suu Kyi, Obama said: "Today marks the next step in a new chapter between the United States and Burma."

Rhodes also said:

"The government obviously goes by Myanmar; it's still a disputed issue. The United States government position is still Burma.

"Aung San Suu Kyi still refers to Burma. But then in his meeting with Thein Sein and his comment that he would refer to Myanmar, that that was a diplomatic courtesy to do, doesn't change the fact that the U.S. government position is still Burma. ...

"So our view is that this is something we can continue to discuss moving forward, and it's a symbol of how this country, again, is working through issues that in the past stood in the way of progress but now can be addressed through dialogue."