The international community greeted her election as a step towards democracy and had urged Suu Kyi, who drew huge crowds on the campaign trail, to take her seat amid fears her refusal could stall the transition from military rule.
Hilary Clinton and Daw Su |
"This is an important moment for Myanmar's future," Clinton said in a statement, using Myanmar's former name.
"A genuine transition toward
multi-party democracy leading to general elections in 2015 will help
build a more prosperous society."
The NLD is the main opposition
force after securing 43 of the 44 seats it contested in the
by-elections. The party, which boycotted a controversial 2010 election,
agreed to rejoin the political mainstream last year after a series of
reforms by the government.
But it is still a minority
influence in parliament with one quarter of the seats in both chambers
reserved for unelected military officials.
Renaud Egreteau, a Myanmar
expert from the University of Hong Kong, said Suu Kyi's retreat over the
oath showed that compromise was now among her "political tools".
While taking office had opened
new political ground, Egreteau cautioned Suu Kyi and the NLD against
participating "in the army's constitutional game while refusing the
rules."
Ban Ki-moon and Daw Su |
"We have always believed in
flexibility, in the political process... that is the only way in which
we can achieve our goal without violence," she said.
The democracy icon, who was
released from house arrest in 2010, has shown increased confidence in
the government in recent weeks, calling for the suspension of EU
sanctions and planning her first international trip in 24 years.
Last week, European Union
nations suspended most sanctions against the resource-rich but poor
nation for one year to reward the reforms, which included releasing some
political prisoners.
But the United States has ruled out an immediate end to its main sanctions.
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