UN chief calls for further easing of international sanctions on Myanmar
YANGON - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Tuesday hailed Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi describing the pro-democracy Noble laureate as "a symbol of our hope for human rights for all".
The two leaders met in Yangon during the three-day landmark visit to Myanmar by the UN chief to encourage more democratic reforms in the formerly military ruled Southeast Asian nation.
Ban became the first visiting foreigner to address Myanmar's parliament Monday.
He met Suu Kyi at her house and said the opposition leader had accepted an invitation to visit the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The meeting came a day after Suu Kyi ended a deadlock over her parliament debut after winning the landmark April 1 by-elections in which she and 42 members of her party National League for Democracy were elected.
She and her other party parliamentarians were to be sworn April 23 but they refused to take part in the swearing-in ceremony unless the wording of the oath was changed from "safeguard" to "respect" the constitution drawn up by former military rulers.
However they have now agreed to take the parliamentary oath despite the wording and are expected to be sworn in on Wednesday.
Ban welcomed Suu Kyi's decision to compromise with the wording in the interests of the larger good.
"I know that it must have been a very difficult decision. But a real leader demonstrates flexibility for the greater cause of the people. This is what she has done and I really admire and respect her decision," Ban said.
"I am sure she'll play a very constructive and active role as a parliamentarian for the betterment and well-being of this great country. She is a symbol of our hope for human rights for all."
He called for a further easing of international sanctions on Myanmar and said he was encouraged by recent reform efforts in the country.
But Suu Kyi cautioned the international community over the deepening of aid to Myanmar and urged the world powers that any assistance should be carefully targeted to "empower the people" rather than the government.
The two leaders agree on the need for greater development assistance so that ordinary people will be able to reap the dividends of the political transition in the formerly isolated nation, according to media reports.
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