Ban Ki-moon meets Myanmar opposition leader Aung Suu Kyi

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met on Tuesday with Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for talks about the country’s political future after a surprise climbdown by the Nobel laureate in her boycott of parliament. The talks at the opposition leader’s lakeside mansion in Yangon, where she was locked up by the former junta for much of the past two decades. The meeting came a day after Suu Kyi, who was elected to parliament a month ago, agreed to take the parliamentary oath despite its wording. The UN chief is on a three-day visit to Burma to encourage more democratic reforms. On Monday he became the first visiting foreigner to address parliament. Suu Kyi and the 42 other members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) are expected to be sworn in on Wednesday. The NLD last week said they would not take part in a swearing-in ceremony unless the wording of the oath was changed from “safeguard” to “respect” the constitution. Speaking ahead of his meeting with Suu Kyi, Ban said he welcomed and respected her decision to compromise in the interests of the greater good. On Monday Ban called for a further easing of sanctions on Burma as he addressed parliament. He said he was encouraged by recent reform efforts in the country, but said the process of change was fragile and needed nurturing. Suu Kyi has said she supports retaining some restrictions to ensure that the pace of reform continues. The two agree on the need for greater development assistance so that ordinary people will be able to reap the dividends of Burma’s political transition, the BBC reported. Ban also held talks with President Thein Sein, a former military figure who has ushered in a series of reforms since he took office last year. The UN Secretary General last visited Burma in 2009 on the invitation of former junta strongman Gen Than Shwe, but described that as a “very difficult mission”.