Aung San Suu Kyi Begins Historic European Tour

Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has started historic European tour on Wednesday, heading for Switzerland, Norway, Ireland, France and Britain. Suu Kyi, 66, accompanied by four members of her National League for Democracy, flew to Geneva to attend the annual meeting of the International Labour Organisation on Thursday.
Following her visit to Switzerland, she will travel to Oslo at the invitation of the Norwegian government to accept her Nobel prize in person, 21 years after winning the award on Saturday.

The pro-democracy leader could not attend the award ceremony at that time due to fears that Myanmar's military government might not allow her to return home. She is expected to ask European leaders to help advance her country's democratization. 

She will be reunited with her sons in Britain, where she lived before returning to Myanmar in 1988, and will celebrate her 67th birthday with them. Aung San Suu Kyi made her diplomatic debut when she gave a speech at an international forum in Thailand earlier this month.

It was her first overseas trip in 24 years.

Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest before being freed in November 2010 and allowed to enter mainstream politics by President Thein Sein, who took office in March 2011. 

She became a member of parliament after winning a seat in the April 1 by-election.
Source: BNA