United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Aung San Suu Kyi held a joint news conference in Yangon Tuesday after meeting briefly to discuss the country's new advancements toward democracy.<br/> <br />The Secretary General said he supported Suu Kyi's decision to take her seat in parliament after earlier refusing to do so.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Politicians will sometimes continue to have differences of opinion on some issues, but a real leader demonstrates flexibility for the greater casue of the people of a country. And this is what she has done."<br/> <br />Monday, Suu Kyi announced a reversal of her earlier stance to boycott parliament over the wording of the swearing-in oath.<br/> <br />Suu Kyi and members of the National League for Democracy party are to be sworn-in to parliament on Wednesday.<br/> <br />Suu Kyi said her decision to compromise on the matter was not a new concept.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY (NLD) PARTY LEADER AND NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE AUNG SAN SUU KYI, SAYING:<br/> <br />"We have always believed in being flexible throughout the years of our struggle, because that is the only way we can achieve our goal<br/> <br />without violence. So I do not think flexibility is going to be a new concept for us, newly acquired because we're going into the National<br/> <br />Assembly. It has been part of the political equipment with which we have been working for the last 23-odd years."<br/> <br />The Secretary General also invited Suu Kyi to visit the United Nations in New York, a visit she said she was looking forward to.<br/> <br />Julie Noce, Reuters
