Myanmar: British FM meets Suu Kyi

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Myanmar: British FM meets Suu Kyi

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British Foreign Secretary William Hague meets with Aung San Suu Kyiin in Myanmar.

06 January,2012 12:25 pm

British Foreign Minister William Hague on Thursday met with Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the democracy movement, in Myanmar during a two-day visit.Hague earlier met with the countrys President Thein Sein who pledged to continue reforms and release more political prisoners.The two-day visit by Hague is the first by a foreign minister from the former colonial power since 1955, before the military takeover in what was known as Burma in 1962.But the visit is a tricky balancing act for Hague, who will face criticism at home if he is seen as appeasing members of the former military regime slammed for its human rights record and brutal suppression of dissent.Concessions would be more acceptable if supported by Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the democracy movement in Myanmar and a Noble peace laureate, with whom Hague was to dine later on Thursday and hold talks with on Friday.Suu Kyi has shown willingness to compromise in recent months, notably by agreeing to run as a candidate in an April 1 by-election after letting her National League for Democracy (NLD) party re-enter the political process.