Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi begins landmark Europe visit

Geneva – Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has arrived in Switzerland at the start of a historic European tour, which will see her accept the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to her more than two decades ago.

Aung San Suu Kyi arrived at the Geneva airport Wednesday from Munich (Germany). Switzerland is the first stop on a more than two-week tour which will also take her to Norway, Britain, France and Ireland.

She is expected to address the International Labour Organization conference in Geneva on Thursday before travelling to Swiss capital Bern to meet President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf and Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter.

On Friday, she will visit the Swiss parliament before heading for Oslo where she is due to deliver a speech for her 1991 Nobel Peace Prize.

Later in the trip, Aung San Suu Kyi will address Britain’s parliament and receive an Amnesty International human rights award in Dublin from rock star Bono.

Aung San Suu Kyi won a parliamentary seat in April elections.

Political changes that have swept Burma since last year after half a century of military rule in there ended last year. A new nominally civilian government took over in March of last year after being elected in November of 2010.

Aung San Suu Kyi visits Europe for the first time in 24 years. She spent more than 14 years in various form of detention in her country before she was released in late 2010.
 
Source: Agencies / www.timesofearth.com