President Obama Meets with Aung San Suu Kyi 19SEP12

AUNG SAN SUU KYI has to be one of the most honorable people to visit the White House. She is quite a lady, having suffered through years of house arrest, being separated from her husband at his death, separated from her children for much of their lives, all for freedom and human rights for her country, Burma. She offers her country hope for peace and prosperity as well as democracy and respect for life as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. God speed to her and her partner in the Burmese government, Pres Thein Sein, the man who took the brave step of freeing Aung San Suu Kyi and starting Burma on the road back to freedom. 

President Barack Obama meets with Burmese Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the Oval Office, Sept. 19, 2012 (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Yesterday, President Obama met with Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese Nobel Laureate and leader of the National League for Democracy Party. The President expressed his admiration for her courage, determination and personal sacrifice in championing democracy and human rights over the years.

Readout of the President’s Meeting with Burmese Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi

President Obama met today with Burmese Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and expressed his admiration for her courage, determination and personal sacrifice in championing democracy and human rights over the years.  The President welcomed Burma’s democratic transition and the recent progress made by Aung San Suu Kyi, as leader of the National League for Democracy Party, working together with President Thein Sein.  The President reaffirmed the determination of the United States to support their sustained efforts to promote political and economic reforms and to ensure full protection of the fundamental rights of the Burmese people.  The President expressed his conviction that the ongoing process of reconciliation and reform offers the people of that nation the opportunity to take charge of their destiny and to shape a more peaceful, free, and prosperous future.

President Barack Obama and Burmese Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi pet Bo, the Obama family dog, at the conclusion of their meeting in the Oval Office, Sept. 19, 2012. Attendees included Danny Russel, Senior Director for Asian Affairs, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)