Naypyitaw: Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Saturday she was pleased with her first meeting with the military-dominated country`s new President. It was her highest contact with the new government since her release from house arrest last November.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate told reporters she was "happy and satisfied" with the meeting on Friday. She spoke after attending a government-sponsored forum in the capital, Naypyitaw.
The government`s invitation to Suu Kyi has generated optimism that the nominally civilian government of President Thein Sein is willing to hold a dialogue with the opposition. Suu Kyi has repeatedly called for talks since her release from seven years of house arrest.
"I hope and believe there will be better understanding" with the government, Suu Kyi spokesman Nyan Win said on Saturday.
Officials warmly greeted Suu Kyi on Saturday at the government-run forum, where she chatted with several over coffee. It was in a stark contrast with the 15 of the past 22 years she has spent under house arrest. During her last seven-year stretch she lived with two female members of her National League for Democracy party and rarely was allowed to see anyone else.
Suu Kyi was driven home to Yangon in a government car after attending the forum.
In their meeting on Friday, Suu Kyi and Thein Sein held "frank and friendly discussions" to "find ways and means of cooperation”, state-run newspapers reported on Saturday with pictures of them greeting each other.
Bureau Report
